Transition Coaching and Mentoring Department Continues to Champion for Children in Families

The Transition Coaching and Mentoring (TCM) Department continues to educate and advocate for every child in Sierra Leone (and indeed in West Africa) to be able to find love and support within a family.  TCM Senior Consultant David Musa, and new TCM staff member, Yatta Palmer, with support from the CRC staff, have hosted a one-day reunion luncheon for participants from Bo, Kenema, Moyamba and Pujehun districts.  These social workers and leaders had attended the Rising Tides Family Reunification Workshop in the fall of 2021.  The TCM department hosts these reunion luncheons to continue to build trusting relationships with lead organizations, to continue to encourage them to move toward transition, and to provide opportunities to share best practices in the care of orphans and vulnerable children.  Attendees often follow-up these events by seeking specific training opportunities that continue to build their capacity in care of children, as well as helping the TCM team continue to educate and advocate for children in families.

Additionally, David and Yatta paid a visit to the Ministry of Gender and Children's affairs in Makeni in Northern Sierra Leone.  The TCM is careful to keep the MGCA apprised of all of its activities, and to encourage the engagement and involvement of members of MGCA at every step of the process.  The pair were able to maximize this trip to Makeni by adding a joint visit to two different orphanages in the township  of Makeni.  These orphanage visits are a great way to break the ice, learn about the work of each organization and begin to build relationships that potentially lead to continue improved care of orphans and vulnerable children and open the door for organizations to begin to consider transition.