Emergency Response

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lives across the globe, but for people with special needs, like Anita in Bombali District, the impact was especially severe.

Anita, a 40-year-old woman living with a disability, faces enormous daily challenges. She is raising five children alone and has long depended on small-scale farming, mostly growing groundnuts to survive. But with the arrival of the pandemic and its associated lockdowns, her already fragile livelihood collapsed.

“This year I have not been able to farm at all,” Anita says. “Now I do not go to the farm. I sit at home all day, all by myself. I didn’t have the capital to set up a petty trade.”

The restrictions not only isolated her physically but cut off access to food, support, and income. People like Anita, without family nearby or access to reliable care, were among the hardest hit during Sierra Leone’s pandemic response.

That’s when support from ChildFund arrived.

“I was here with nothing,” Anita explains. “My companions would go to the farm, but I could not. Unless I did little things just to get something to eat. I was in that situation when ChildFund sent us money.”

With the cash transfer from ChildFund, Anita was able to buy half a bag of rice, palm oil, and start a small business. “As I sell, I take some portions to take care of my children,” she says. “I thank ChildFund for what they have done for us.”

Her daughter, Marylin, is enrolled in ChildFund’s child sponsorship program. She recalls the sense of desperation her family felt when the pandemic began.

“When Corona came, we had nothing except this money ChildFund gave us,” says Marylin. “We bought half a bag of rice and other items. This is what we have been managing with. We thank ChildFund. Please do not forget us.”

For Anita, the ability to feed her family and earn a modest income through petty trading has restored a measure of dignity and hope.

“I know what I was going through raising my children,” she says. “Since I cannot do hard labor and have no one to help me, petty trading is the only way I can survive with my five children.”

Anita’s family was among the 12,787 families whom ChildFund supported to the tune of  USD 386,340, so they could take care of their urgent needs. This support made a big difference. Families used the money to buy food, pay for medical care, transport, and other important needs. It also helped them avoid making tough choices, like pulling their children out of school, borrowing too much money, or selling things they needed to earn a living.

“In addition to supporting families, the cash transfer assistance also boosted local businesses. When families spent the money in nearby shops and markets, it helped small business owners who were also struggling during the crisis. Giving cash directly gave families the dignity and freedom to choose what they needed most. Because every household faced different challenges during the pandemic. In the end, these transfers helped families stay resilient and contributed to the overall recovery of their communities,” notes Victor Kamara, Country Director, ChildFund Sierra Leone.