By Benjamin Rosas

Something truly special happened in Sierra Leone last month. Thanks to Kidsave's collaboration with Integrated Development Initiatives (IDI), 25 children were reunited with their biological families after years of separation. With support from Sierra Leone's Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, these children were given a second chance to grow up in homes built with love and family.

Kidsave has been operational in Sierra Leone for 15 years, dedicated to helping vulnerable children reunite with extended and biological families. When the Ebola virus struck the country in 2015, thousands of children were left without their families or caregivers. Since we started, our reunification process has successfully reunited over 1,000 children with their families or found stable, long-term adoptive placements.

In the village of Luawa, 8 boys and 17 girls were reunited with their biological and extended families, but these children represent more than just numbers. Their struggles embody the hardships these villagers must endure, and the resilience needed to heal from such tragedies.

Jestina Mimoh was only 6 years old when Ebola took her mother's life. For the first time in over a decade, Jestina finally reunited with her half-brother.

“For years, I didn’t even know I had a brother. But now I have someone to call my family again. Life in the orphanage was hard. Today, I feel like I can finally start living with hope.”

Through tears of joy, Jestina shared a loving embrace with her half-brother, serving as a powerful reminder of why our work is so important.

Ibrahim Kawa, IDI’s Executive Director and Manager of the Kidsave Program in Sierra Leone, oversees the reunification process.

“Children need to grow up in communities, surrounded by culture, traditions, and family,” he said. “Orphanages can provide shelter, but not the emotional foundation that comes from family life.”

A true hero, Ibrahim, has helped hundreds of kids reunite with their families. Due to extreme poverty in the region, our program provides each family with essential items to help them care for the children they adopt, including mattresses, food, school supplies, and hygiene kits. Kidsave also supports struggling families with microloans, which offer women-run businesses a stepping-stone to financial security.

Our reunification process caught the attention of Government leaders from the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs and the Bonthe District Council. From overpopulation to lack of vital resources, these leaders know all too well the problems orphanages must endure. “This is what we’ve dreamed of doing for years. But it’s Kidsave and IDI that brought it to life,” said Mohamed Turay from the Ministry. Mohamed has been a longtime advocate for child protective services.

Reunification is just the beginning. IDI social workers will continue to monitor and assist families to ensure the kids are living in stable, healthy conditions. Thanks to our Sierra Leone team, 25 more children have finally found family again.

Visit kidsave.org/reunification/ to learn more about Kidsave Sierra Leone and our reunification process.