Support Sahid Bangura's Fight Against Kush Epidemic

Help Us Combat the Kush Epidemic in Sierra Leone!

Hi, I’m Zach Franke, and I’m currently serving with Mercy Ships on a two-year mission in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Through this journey, I’ve connected with Sahid Bangura , a remarkable local leader who has dedicated almost seven years to combating the Kush epidemic—a crisis of drug addiction that is devastating communities across Sierra Leone.

Sahid runs Creating Opportunities for Disadvantaged Persons (CODaP), an outreach organization working pro bono with young men and women caught in the grip of addiction. He meets them where they are—on the streets, in slums, and along Lumley Beach—offering them not only hope but tangible recovery resources. CODaP has collaborated with local and international organizations to bring mental health, addiction treatment, and life skills education to those who need it most.

Why Your Help Is Needed

The Kush epidemic has ravaged Sierra Leone , especially among the youth. The government is struggling to provide adequate support, and local efforts like CODaP are critical lifelines. Sahid and his team have a passion for recovery and rehabilitation, but they lack the funding to hold their next outreach event, scheduled for November.

Our goal is to raise $1,500 to cover this event. This will provide:

Meals for 50-60 attendees (breakfast and lunch)

Venue rental for the day

Transportation stipends for volunteers and speakers

Supplies for outreach and follow-up support

I will personally be at the event, and my wife will be documenting it through photos and videos, sharing the stories of recovery and resilience. We believe this is just the first step in bringing more resources to this critical cause.

The Impact of Your Donation

Your donation will have an immediate, tangible impact in the fight against addiction in Sierra Leone. By partnering with Sahid and CODaP, we can provide the resources needed to support those struggling with addiction and give them a path to recovery. Together, we can provide hope, healing, and a brighter future.

In the book When Helping Hurts, it says:

"Real change happens when we don’t just give but engage, understand, and empower."

We are not just asking for your donation—we’re asking you to join us in creating lasting change.

Be Part of Something Greater

This is an opportunity to support a local leader doing life-saving work in one of the most challenging environments. Your donation, no matter the size, will help restore hope to those who need it most.

Thank you for considering this cause and being part of this mission to fight the Kush epidemic. Please share this campaign with others who might be moved to help!

[Quick backstory: I watched the above short video on YouTube about a month ago, and felt so compelled by it that I tracked down Sahid and that's how we connected. I interviewed him for my podcast and that's the cover photo! Thanks again for any efforts or resources you dedicate to this, it WILL make a HUGE difference.

Special thanks to Heilke de Heer on the Global Mercy hospital ship for sharing the link originally and helping me find Sahid in Freetown!]