th
st
Scripture Union SL Christmas /New year Gift Project Page 1

1.
Situation Analysis
The Ebola epidemic which started in Kailahun, Sierra Leone in May has become a national health emergency, having killed over Six thousand One hundred and Thirty Two (6,132) people and
Seven thousand Three Hundred and Twelve (7,313) infected as of December 3 (WHO situational report for Ebola). According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Sierra Leone now has the highest number of Ebola cases, surpassing neighboring Guinea where the outbreak originated in February. The health sector has been greatly affected with 11 doctors been infected so far and 7 died including our SU family member, Dr. Olivette Buck , and several nurses. We also lost Florence Samuka , an Executive member of one of our SU school groups at the Sierra
Leone International Missions School (SLIMS) in Freetown. She died of Ebola together with ten of her family members in October 2014.
Hundreds of children and youths have become orphans as a result. The Ministry of Social
Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs through their partnering non-governmental organizations has recorded 1,487 orphans as of November 2014; and more children are being affected daily by this outbreak.
Scripture Union, a ministry for children is very much concerned by this disquieting numbers that are on the increase every day and no one seems to know when this war will come to an end. The
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology together with their partners are doing a radio and television teaching program for pre-primary, primary, junior and senior secondary schools to keep the children occupied during this challenging time. Not withstand such laudable initiative, the challenge is that most children don’t have access to radio and electricity, limiting most children and youth to access the facility provided to supplement the school lessons. It is against the backdrop that we want to contribute as a movement in closing this gap by distributing radios and batteries to such deprived communities.
THE EFFECT OF EBOLA ON SCRIPTURE UNION SIERRA LEONE
This year is a remarkable one to the SU Family as the movement turns 130 years of ministering to children, youths and families. We were in the midst of our celebrations when the deadly Ebola virus attacked. In July, the President was left with no option but to declare a State of Health
Emergency when we lost our first medical doctor who was in the forefront of the fight against
Ebola in Kenema. Schools and Colleges were closed down. As a result we had to put a halt on all our programs, both in schools and weekly youth meetings (Central Meeting) in the headquarters hall and all Anniversary Celebration programmes including our National Youth Camp.
The Ebola outbreak which is now a pandemic has seriously affected the entire Scripture Union family. Most of our Executive Committee Members especially those living in the provinces can no more attend Executive Committee/ Board meetings because their districts are quarantined, our income has dropped drastically as most contributors (Team Supporters) no longer pay monthly team support as they too are seriously affected, due to the economic uncertainty caused by the
Scripture Union SL Christmas /New year Gift Project Page 2

outbreak. We are praying as staff and as a country that His word in Psalm 91 will be evident in our lives as SU family, and Ebola will be history in our beloved nation.
Summary
The Program which will run simultaneously in all 10 locations from 18 th
December 2014 to 31 st
January 2015 will gear towards the following:

The distribution of Food items and Radio player & batteries to our School-going children/youths

Delivery of the Message of hope from the Word of God

Awareness raising/ prevention messages of Ebola
Rationale

The quarantined homes comprise of children as they are more affected by the Ebola outbreak

Children always look forward to gift especially on holidays. With the outbreak of Ebola, most families cannot afford it, as food is their priority now.

The season of Christmas is a time of hope and rejoicing for Christians, so we want to extend this hope through the word of God to quarantined homes

Most children in the provinces and remote areas are not benefiting from the radio teaching programme done by the Ministry of Education because they cannot afford a radio while electricity is another great challenge.
Project Methodology

SU Staff and volunteers work through the churches in the communities to distribute food items, radios and batteries.

Teachers-in-charge of SU groups (Sponsors) from schools in the communities will be included during our presentations to help with monitoring of the use of the radios and maintain relationship/contact with them

Presentation of the gospel message from God’s word will be delivered along side the gifts by Staff and Volunteers

Presentation of Ebola awareness raising/ prevention messages will go along side by trained personnels
Expected Outcome

500 Children and their families will be reached with gifts and the word of hope from God

500 children in remote and deprived communities will be able to listen and benefit from the educational radio teachings program done by Ministry of Education

Families in quarantine homes will find hope and faith in Jesus through this exercise.

Partnership with churches will be renewed and strengthened

Contribute to the reduction of the Ebola virus infection on children and families.
Scripture Union SL Christmas /New year Gift Project Page 3

Targeted beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries – 500 children in 10 areas

Secondary Beneficiaries – An average of 100 Families in the same area (60% women)

Indirect Beneficiaries - 12 Trained Staff and Volunteers in these targeted areas
Budget
ITEM QUANTITY
UNIT
COST
(LE)
TOTAL IN
LEONES (LE)
TOTAL
IN GBP
(£)
Rice
Vegetable Cooking
Oil
Tomato Paste
Onions
Sugar
Maggi
Salt
Vinnic Battery
100 bags
50 gallons
50 Cartons
25 bags
2 Cartons
20 Cartons
20 Cartons
500 Boxes
85,000
40,000
40,000
100,000
190,000
50,000
70,000
19,000
8,500,000
1,303
2,000,000
307
2,000,000
307
2,500,000
383
380,000
58
1,000,000
153
1,400,000
215
9,500,000
1,457
Radios
Transportation 12 Person
500 30,000
250,000
15,000,000
2,300
3,000,000
460
GRAND TOTAL 45,280,000
6,943
Conclusion
With your kind and prompt intervention, we shall collectively be able to bring hope to Children, young people and families in this moment of Ebola crisis. This is an opportunity to save lives and bring joy to hopeless homes; our SU members living in the provinces too needs to feel our love at this crucial time in the life of our country.
Scripture Union SL Christmas /New year Gift Project Page 4

Scripture Union SL Christmas /New year Gift Project Page 5