President of Sierra Leone Welcomes WHI

On January 9, a delegation of business & professional people from the US met with the new President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma. The meeting was held to highlight the work of the nation’s leaders alongside international agencies like World Hope International, and was covered extensively by news media in Sierra Leone. Jo Anne Lyon, Founder and CEO of WHI, gave a brief presentation to the President outlining the organization’s work in Sierra Leone and how it coincides with his plan for development. In her address, Lyon highlighted WHI’s accomplishments:

• Over 20,000 clients are served through WHI’s Microfinance program, Hope Micro, which 

  boasts a 98% payback rate.

• WHI Anti-trafficking has fought human trafficking in Sierra Leone by helping to enact laws,   educating through village round-tables, training over 600 law enforcement and legal
  professionals in the country, and developing service providers for survivors.

• The community-development program in the Bombali District has dug many wells and 

  has received a new drilling rig, with which it plans to drill 50-75 new wells in 2008. In  

  addition to animal multiplication and agricultural work the villages are also being trained

  in health prevention and new latrines.

• WHI’s Hope for Children program has facilitated sponsorship for over 500 children in 

  Sierra Leone and is building new schools and rehabbing old ones.

• Teacher mentoring teams are working in collaboration with Sierra Leone teachers to

  raise the quality of education in the schools.

President Koroma was very encouraged with the report and responded by outlining his goals for the next 36 months. WHI will play an important role in continued development in Sierra Leone to meet those goals.

Click here to learn more about WHI’s work in Sierra Leone.