Tzu Chi Charity Foundation Donates 9,600 Bags of Rice to 3,200 Vulnerable People in Freetown
By Sorie Sesay
The Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, working with faith-based organizations, on Wednesday donated 9,600 bags of 10kg rice to 3,200 vulnerable people in Freetown as part of efforts to ease food insecurity and promote social cohesion. The donation ceremony was held at Sheikh Tais Academy Junior Secondary School, Lower Personage Street, Kissy, near Shell Lorry Park.
The event, themed “Faith in Action: Uniting Against Substance Abuse for a Healthy and Hopeful Sierra Leone,” brought together religious leaders, government officials, and beneficiaries. Each beneficiary received three bags of 10kg rice, according to the Foundation.
Speaking on behalf of the Foundation’s founder, Margaret Bassie, the Tzu Chi representative to Sierra Leone said the initiative reflects shared values of love and compassion across religions, stressing that addressing hardship requires interfaith collaboration. She said the Foundation operates without discrimination and has supported vulnerable communities nationwide, while also engaging in campaigns against substance abuse, including kush.
She called on religious leaders to speak with one voice in the fight against drug abuse and urged patience among those who did not benefit this year, assuring that future support is planned.
Representing the religious groups, Rev. Joseph T. Kamanda of the Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown said faith leaders continue to pray for people affected by drug abuse and disclosed that the Catholic Church has established a rehabilitation facility to support recovery. He also called for skills training centers to engage youths in productive activities.
Director of Social Welfare, John Conteh, welcomed the donation, describing it as consistent with the Ministry’s mandate to address vulnerability. He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s tradition of religious tolerance and said the Ministry, in collaboration with the Inter-Religious Council, is developing a religious policy to strengthen harmony and prevent tensions.
A beneficiary, Saidu A. Sesay, Secretary General of the United Polio Brothers and Sisters Association, described the donation as life-saving amid economic hardship, noting that food remains a major challenge for vulnerable families. He thanked the Foundation and appealed for expanded support in future distributions.
