World Vision provides Child-Friendly Spaces to flood victims in Sierra Leone

The right to play and leisure is one of the fundamental rights of a child. World Vision Sierra Leone has worked to ensure this right for children affected by floods in slums in the capital, Freetown.

In heavy rains, many slums in Freetown flooded, leaving thousands destitute and property totally destroyed. A huge number of  people—men, women and children alike were seeking refuge at the Sierra Leone National Stadium in Freetown.

World Vision responded within the first 24 hours of the flood in many ways—provision of food (rice, cooking oil) and non-food items including mattresses, blankets, cups, spoons etc. Yet the accommodation issues at the National Stadium could not be solved.

The Government of Sierra Leone, realizing that letting the inhabitants of the slums return to their places will pose serious hazards, engaged international non-governmental organizations (INGOs)—including World Vision, on finding a suitable place to relocate affected persons. Mile Six was agreed upon. Mile Six is in the western rural area of Freetown.

"We appreciate what World Vision has done for our children. Such facilities are hard to come by and are mostly, only available to children attending private schools,"

The Government of Sierra Leone and its partners have since relocated displaced persons to the new site at Mile Six. The displaced peoples have taken to their new site saying it’s a cleaner environment, spacious and conducive to a good lifestyle. Unfortunately it lacked recreational facilities for children.

World Vision provided children of Mile Six with recreational facilities (merry go rounds, step riders, seesaws and ringing bells) worth 5,000 USD.

‘’All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. We appreciate what World Vision has done for our children. Such facilities are hard to come by and are mostly, only available to children attending private schools,” says Moses Trye, Camp Manager, Mile Six.

“They didn’t have such opportunities in the slums where we are coming from. But our children have now been given the opportunity to enjoy it. Provision of these items is timely and good for our children. When the children play, you can sense the happiness. The society belongs to children. They grow and become strong to be leaders in the future. If the children don’t have a place to play, life becomes very boring. And this affects them socially,” he further explains.

"We no longer go to that dangerous and dirty stream to play. We no longer go to other people’s compound or villages to play. We have it all here now.’’

Umu Turay, 14, breaks the boredom that kept her and her peers unhappy. “When we came here at first, we didn’t have these facilities. We were bored—nowhere to crack jokes and laugh,” she says. ‘’We felt like going back to where we came from. But we thank World Vision for what they have done. We no longer go to that dangerous and dirty stream to play. We no longer go to other people’s compound or villages to play. We have it all here now.’’

Creating a child-friendly environment for children is very important to World Vision as it is an important part of enjoy life in all its fullness.

The right to play is not just a universal right of a child, but it is also inscribed in Sierra Leone’s Child Rights Act.