Ashford Holy Trinity Church raises the roof for Sierra Leones forgotten orphans
From 1991 to 2002 a bloody civil war raged in Sierra Leone, West Africa. After a tentative peace agreement was settled at the turn of the millennium, many refugees seeking protection in the countries capital of Freetown began returning to their homes. Sally Koroma, a Sierra Leonean resident of the Tonkolili District along Mile 91 (one of the remaining stretches of tarmac in post war Sierra Leone) noticed the alarming number of children left orphaned by the decade long conflict.
Nine years later the ‘Sally Koroma Mile 91 Life Orphanage’ is now home to some 250+ orphans. Supported by Derbyshire based International Development charity Village Aid, these children are fed, clothed and educated by local people with financial support coming from many Derbyshire residents who support the work of the Bakewell based charity.
In September 2008 Holy Trinity Church, Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire committed to raise £2000 a year in support of the children who live and go to school at the centre for a period of three years. In doing so the church and its fundraising efforts became a pivotal revenue stream for the orphanage and for the past 18 months the church has maintained its support through an intensive and committed fundraising effort.
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George Ferguson, the Co-Director of Village Aid said “The level of commitment shown by Ashford Holy Trinity Church really inspired us, even more impressive has been their shared resolve to make a lasting difference to so many young lives in Sierra Leone”
On Saturday March 6th at 7:30pm Holy Trinity Church will be hosting a musical evening with all proceeds going towards their ongoing fundraising efforts. Students of Lady Manners School and the Holy Trinity Church choir will be performing what promises to be an entertaining evening.
Tickets will be priced at £5. For purchases and information contact Hilary Hull on 01298 871655.