Rainbo clinics, Sierra Leone
Donation protected
I am a British journalist who has been working in charity communications for six years. I was invited by The Executive Director Priya Bhullar to come to Sierra Leone for two months to work for an amazing local charity called Rainbo initiative which provides free health ( the only clinics in SL to do this) and psycho-social care for women and children who have survived rape and sexual violence. I have visited all three clinics and have been overwhelmed by the work the midwives and counsellors are doing, not only in caring for the traumatised survivors and their families but by trying to support the process of justice, so that the perpetrators will be brought to trail.
The midwives and counsellors who work here told me that one of the things they desperately need was a change of clothes for the women and children that have been sexually attacked. I knew that my friends and family would want to help with that so I set up a Go fund me account. The money will go directly to buy these clothes. I will divide what I have raised between each clinic and take it to them personally.
Outreach workers, usually students, go into the community to talk openly about gender based violence. They use skits and songs to try and both inform and change attitudes. After Ebola was stopped in its tracks by communication which changed the way people interacted, the Outreach workers have real optimism that they can change the way men view women in Sierra Leone.
When I was going round the clinics in the provinces last week to talk to the midwives and staff was told that if they had a range of clothes for survivors it would be really helpful. Many of the survivors are shockingly young and giving them a clean change of clothes could made all the difference.
So clothes for survivors are urgently needed.
A mid-wife told me that "yesterday a six year old came in who had been raped. Her clothes were ripped and bloody. She had no shoes. We had to buy them ourselves." It would be fantastic if you could contribute to this small, local charity, where your money will go straight to the people that need it and immediately be used for clothing stock in the clinics. THANKS !!
The midwives and counsellors who work here told me that one of the things they desperately need was a change of clothes for the women and children that have been sexually attacked. I knew that my friends and family would want to help with that so I set up a Go fund me account. The money will go directly to buy these clothes. I will divide what I have raised between each clinic and take it to them personally.
Outreach workers, usually students, go into the community to talk openly about gender based violence. They use skits and songs to try and both inform and change attitudes. After Ebola was stopped in its tracks by communication which changed the way people interacted, the Outreach workers have real optimism that they can change the way men view women in Sierra Leone.
When I was going round the clinics in the provinces last week to talk to the midwives and staff was told that if they had a range of clothes for survivors it would be really helpful. Many of the survivors are shockingly young and giving them a clean change of clothes could made all the difference.
So clothes for survivors are urgently needed.
A mid-wife told me that "yesterday a six year old came in who had been raped. Her clothes were ripped and bloody. She had no shoes. We had to buy them ourselves." It would be fantastic if you could contribute to this small, local charity, where your money will go straight to the people that need it and immediately be used for clothing stock in the clinics. THANKS !!
Organizer
Sophie Radice
Organizer
