What happens when you don’t walk by…

Mission Direct volunteer Brooke Phillips stopped to find out more about a child’s plight and ended up starting an entire building project in Sierra Leone.

In 2008 she was leaving church in Freetown with the Mission Direct team. Her attention was drawn to a small boy begging on the steps outside. After giving the boy some money the team moved on, but Brooke couldn’t forget him: who was he? Why was he begging?

After much investigation she discovered that that the little boy was called John. He had learning difficulties and was looked after by his grandmother. Due to his condition he was unable to travel to a special needs school and so spent his day begging instead.

The school explained that it had tried, and failed to get an accommodation block built, so that children could board there and be fully looked after. Brooke returned home determined to raise money for the accommodation.

Now, two years later, the dormitory facilities are complete. Teachers say they expect attendances to rocket, now they can give children with the greatest needs the attention and education they deserve. Amongst the boarders is John, having left his life of begging behind.

 

Back to News