Sierra Leone Follow-up #8: St George's Refuge for Street Kids

St George Refuge for Street Kids:

On the mountain side above the town of Grafton is a Boy Scout Camp that was thriving in the 1980s. Numerous cinder block cabins, kitchen facilities, trails, etc… are there. When the rebels made their way across the country toward the capital city of Freetown they stopped at the camp. The director (pictured above) and his family fled up the mountain and hid for 2 weeks. Once they were out of food he had no choice but to approach the rebels with an offer. He would provide medical attention to the wounded if they would spare his family. At first they were going to kill him, but some of the boy soldiers made an appeal. They had been scouts before the war and knew that he was a good man. He has stayed at the camp all these years, and one-by-one the buildings that were burned out are being remodeled. Mission Direct has helped with funds and former scouts have been hired to do the work.

For now, St George’s Foundation is using a few of the buildings as a refuge for kids that have been rescued from the streets of Freetown. Many children were separated from their families during the war. If they were too young to know their name or where they were from they have no alternative but to live on the streets. They do whatever it takes to survive. Even young girls at 7 or 8 years of age know they can get money or food by offering themselves. It is so sad! St George’s brings the kids to the camp for a year. During that time they help them to regain self-respect and try to locate family. If they are unable to determine who the child belongs to, there are foster homes in the countryside for the kids. Lives are being changed! What a work!!