Children Of The Nation Delegation Calls On President Kabbah
By Marian Samu

A delegation of the Children of the Nation, an international Christian organization, working with children in Sierra Leone has called on President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah at his Hill Station Office in Freetown.

Members of the delegation who were introduced to the President by Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs, Mrs. Memunatu Koroma, were at the President's office to brief him on their activities in Sierra Leone.

The International President of Children of the Nation, Rev. Chris Clark, said that the creation of the organization was as a result of a visit he made to Sierra Leone at the height of the rebel war, and saw the plight of children, especially those who had lost their parents. Rev. Chark explained that the organization was formed with the aim of finding families for these children adding that the organization presently has a home for the children at Marjay Town near Goderich in Freetown where they are catering for about two hundred children.

Madam Angie Myles, Director of the Sierra Leone Country Programme said they try as much as possible to cater for all of the children's needs including food and schooling. She disclosed that the organization has started a forty-five acre farm project where they are doing mixed cropping in an effort to grow what they eat and in upholding President Kabbah's food security initiative. She also explained that they take care of street children as well, and that the children are allowed to visit their guardians at least once a month.

President Kabbah welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for what the organization is doing for the children of Sierra Leone, noting that it is very important to restore the status of children as human beings. He, however, suggested the necessity for collaboration and coordination between various organizations working in the interest of children. This, he said, will help avoid wastage and that resources will be channeled properly. He therefore took this opportunity to inform the delegation about an international conference on children affected by war, which is being organized by the Italian Government, and which will be held in Freetown on the 19th November 2004. President Kabbah advised that it is important for members of the Children of the Nation to attend this conference, at least to see what is happening and find out how they can coordinate their resources.

Rev. Chris Clark assured the President that they intend to stay in Sierra Leone for a very long time and pledged to work hard and turn the lives of the children around, whom he described as the 'ashes of the nation'. Those children, he noted, are the future leaders of the country.

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