Welcome to the first blog of Nyandengoh! We are so grateful to finally connect with
all of you in this way. On April 22, 2020 Nyandengoh! saw its first anniversary. We
feel blessed beyond measure when we think of all that has happened in this first
year. There is no way that we can update you on all of it in one blog, so over the
next few weeks and months we are hoping to catch you up on some of our stories!
From a few children in Mattru Jong, the total number of children served by
Nyandengoh! has now grown to 74, with children from surrounding villages like
Luawa, Mowogor, Moyowa, Tihun, etc. After Heleen Yoder left for the USA, Sylvanus
French took on the role of Program Manager. He is assisted by community workers
Esther Sopay and Abdulai Jengbeh Jr., and intern Miatta Fofanah.
Over the past few months, the team has had to adjust their activities due to
restrictions related to Covid-19. The effects of the pandemic are felt even in the
smallest villages of Sierra Leone. The suspension of weekly markets makes it harder
for farmers to sell their produce, or fishermen to sell their fish. Small traders have
less opportunities to sell their wares. Children feel unsettled as they miss the daily
routine of school. People don’t find comfort in their daily or weekly religious
gatherings. The fear of the Ebola crisis is still fresh on people’s mind and many avoid
health care altogether, increasing the risk of prolonged suffering or death from
conditions other than the Coronavirus disease.
Despite restrictions in physical contact and get-togethers, the team has continued to
serve the children. We received a donation from Hope Universal
(www.hopeuniversal.com) which enabled us to bless our Nyandengoh! families in a
special way in this time of need. In the days leading to the second nation-wide
lockdown every family received a 25 kg bag of rice. More recently the team
distributed handwashing stations: a jerry can with a spigot and a piece of soap. As
they visit the homes (while maintaining safe distance and wearing masks) they
encourage the families and educate them on Covid and the government regulations
that have been put in place. When our team noticed that school-going children were beginning to forget some of the things they had learned, they put together small
“home-school” packages which enable the children to keep studying. Abdulai, our
community outreach worker who was trained as a nurse, has been making sure that
despite the fear of attending health care facilities, children with health needs are
taken to the hospital and treated for malaria, seizures, pneumonia and other
conditions. Every month he distributes medication to children in our program who
live with epilepsy.
The team’s compassion and enthusiasm brings joy to many families and transforms communities. Not too long ago we did an intake for a child who had just moved into one of the villages we work in. When we asked the mother how the community is
treating her, she told us: “In my old village it was not easy. But because Nyandengoh! visits the village I now live in, the people treat us well.” We have never held any meetings or campaigns in this village. People simply observed our workers as they related to the disabled children and started changing their attitudes. In this same village we witnessed the response of people as one of our children experienced a seizure in the middle of the road. Immediately they invited the boy to rest on their veranda and gave him water to wash his face. This is a beautiful response in a country where many still believe epilepsy is contagious and demonic. As the Nyandengoh! team continues its activities, we would appreciate your prayers for God’s protection over them and the children.
Lastly, we are sending you this blog because in the past year you have shown interest in our work. If you rather not receive these emails, feel free to unsubscribe through the link below. If you want to know more about us and see lots of pictures of our precious children, please check out our website: www.nyandengoh.org.