By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
On Sunday, August 31, 2025, the Helping Hands Outreach Program extended vital humanitarian assistance to vulnerable women and children in Jorma 2 Community, located off the Bo–Taiama Highway in Bo City. The initiative involved the distribution of both food and non-food items, aimed at improving the welfare of disadvantaged families.
According to Albert Nelson Sanusi, the Resident Project Team Lead, the intervention benefited more than 150 vulnerable women, including single mothers and school-age children. He described the initiative as “a dream come true and a testament to God’s intervention,” made possible through the generosity of Madam Judith Jin, a U.S.-based philanthropist.
Madam Jin first visited Sierra Leone and specifically Jorma 2 in 2022. Following that visit, she pledged to support vulnerable groups in the community and has remained committed to that promise ever since.
Sanusi emphasized that Helping Hands Outreach Program, a community-based organization, is not only focused on humanitarian relief but also committed to long-term empowerment. One of its flagship projects is a microfinance revolving scheme, designed to help disadvantaged women, youth, and young adults become self-reliant and reduce dependency.
In line with its empowerment agenda, the organization is also advancing educational access in the community. Sanusi revealed that plans are underway to construct a permanent school facility for children whose families cannot afford the fees of the only nearby private school.
Currently, pupils from Primary One to Five attend classes in an unfinished dwelling house, supported by four dedicated volunteer teachers. These teachers are not on the government payroll and rely solely on a $50 monthly stipend provided by Madam Jin, as a token of appreciation and encouragement for their service.
Sanusi added that this initiative aligns with the government’s “Big Five Game Changers”, particularly in the area of Human Capital Development.
Beyond education and microfinance, Madam Jin has consistently provided relief to families in Jorma 2 during difficult times. Over the past three years, she has donated rice, cooking condiments, school bags, books, pens, and pencils, helping to sustain households and support children’s education.
This continued support from the Helping Hands Outreach Program and Madam Jin offers a beacon of hope to the Jorma 2 community and underscores the impact of grassroots partnerships in fostering inclusive development.