Freetown, Sierra Leone – August, 2025 – The Minister of Social Welfare, together with her delegation, has visited the United Polo Brothers and Sisters Inclusive Training Center on Shell New Road following a recent fire outbreak at the facility.
The visit aimed to assess the level of damage and provide immediate relief support.
During the visit, the Minister reaffirmed government’s strong commitment to persons with disabilities, particularly during the difficult rainy season.
She presented a donation of fifteen (15) bags of 50kg rice, provided through donor partners, to help meet urgent food needs.
This support is part of a wider national relief initiative, which has already benefited communities in the Pademba Road and ECOWAS Street areas. The Minister further emphasized the Ministry’s mission to replace street begging with sustainable economic empowerment, thereby restoring independence and dignity to persons with disabilities.
The Minister was accompanied by Commissioner Brima Sheriff of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, who expressed appreciation to the government for its continued support.
He assured the gathering that his office is developing a comprehensive national work plan that aligns with the government’s development priorities, aimed at addressing systemic challenges faced by persons with disabilities across Sierra Leone.
Mr. Saidu Abdulai Sesay, Interim Chairman of the Center, welcomed the delegation and expressed profound gratitude for what he described as the government’s “Talk and Do” approach.
He highlighted the Center’s long-standing role in empowering its members, recalling its establishment in 2002 after the civil war to provide skills training and alternatives to street begging. For over two decades, the Center has transformed lives and served as a community hub for vulnerable youth and persons with disabilities.
Mr. Sesay explained that the fire incident of May 15, 2025, destroyed workshops, tools, and other valuable property. While no lives were lost, the damage has severely crippled the Center’s training and income-generating activities.
He welcomed the food aid but made a heartfelt appeal for sustainable support, including the reconstruction of damaged facilities and the replacement of lost equipment. Such assistance, he stressed, is vital to prevent members from returning to street begging and to ensure the Center continues to foster self-reliance and economic empowerment.
The Ministry of Social Welfare noted these appeals and confirmed that the findings from this visit would be factored into its ongoing strategy for disability inclusion and economic empowerment.
Credit: Abu Bakarr Sama
