Happy Birthday, CRC!

7/11/2022

On July 4th, the Child Reintegrated Centre (CRC) in Bo celebrated its 22nd birthday in which participants were invited to grace the occasion from all works of life. In her statement, the Director of CRC Olivia Fonnie welcomed everyone and explained some of the successes her organization has made saving lives in Sierra Leone. According to Director Olivia, CRC started with 40 children, but can now boost of over 500 children. Olivia reiterated that CRC is now proud of their children who went through the CRC, who have gone on to careers in all facets of life. They have become doctors, engineers, teachers, social workers, entrepreneurs, all contributing to the develop of the nation. Now the CRC is proud to provide care not just to children, but to the entire family, living them all up out of poverty. Olivia thanked HCW for their tremendous work they have been doing and entreated them to continue the good work.

Statements were also made by:

Rev. Samuel Killie, who represented Rev. Charley who was unavoidable absent.
Lara who represented the Morells
Field Lasion Maada Navo on behalf of HCW
A representative from Social Welfare
Matron Augusta on behalf of Mercy hospital
Ghada Bassie representing CRC Alumina
Marcus Smart - one of the students in a CRC family

Below is the typed statement from Marcus Smart, a CRC student:

Mr. Chairman, our Noble Bishop, who is now late, may light perpetual shine upon him. Our district superintendent, Director of CRC, Maada the representative of HCW, Staff of CRC, Mercy
Hospital, Ladies and Gentlemen , I greet you all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and
personal Savior, Amen.

I feel honored and thankful to God Almighty at all times, when I think about my exposure with the Child Reintegration Centre, I feel motivated from childhood up till date, which show that I am blessed with the golden opportunity and will be of more blessings to my family, Country, Community and the CRC at large.

I am so grateful to Helping Children Worldwide and management of the CRC and I believe and committed to the core values of this organization which has impacted my life to my future.

In my introduction to Child Reintegration Centre, I was taught to be religious and have self-discipline, which is to say, NO to sex before marriage, abstinence from it, to avoid smoking, drunkenness, the use of abusive languages and living a life free from involvement in criminality of any sort and being considerate to fellow human beings of all ages. This has helped me focus on my education without divided attention. My non – involvement in all these elicit act which normally leads young boys of age to perform poorly in academics works, dropping out of schools has kept me afloat academically. Many of my age mates have given up on education, and are living a worse life.

However, I want to be grateful to people who have influenced my life throughout my stay and their inspiration to help me grow to this point in my life. I want to name a few, to start with, HCW, the late Bishop J.K. Yambasu, may his soul rest in peace. Patty and Allen, Mr. A.J. Lewis once a former director, Rev. Edna Boima Forma program coordinator, Mr. Mohamed Nabieu another former director, Rev. Olivia Iyesatta Fonnie present director, Aunty Mabel Mustapha, Lucy Sesay and all staff of CRC present here, I say my pleasure to you for your relentless efforts, advices, encouragement and supervisory role you played in my life. Thank you and God bless you all.

Finally, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our noble institution, the Child Reintegration Centre. God bless CRC, God bless Sierra Leone, and God bless us all.