December 2025

A lot was going on this year….!

We were highly involved in education, but also in eye care. Students passed their final exams, we made plans to improve the school for Nurses Training, we had discussions with local authorities and in the mean time there were eye operations and eye camps in full swing. Not everything went on smoothly but we are progressing.

Henk (ophthalmologist) and Maria (psychiatric nurse) came twice to SL, Wim (eye doctor) came together with Berend (tropical doctor, family physician).

Myrthe (ophthalmologist) and Richard (family physician) came for the second time, Stefan (eye doctor) came for the first time to get an impression from Sierra Leone.

Bert and Beppie came three times to visit the projects and for planning with our local partners James and AKK.

In short: a year full of events.

EDUCATION:

Already last year we planned to reorgnize the compound of WAT-CEC (Waterloo Community Educational Centre). It is the Training Institute where our nurses and solar technicians receive their education. A more quiet and clean compound should contribute to a more academic atmosphere. It was quite a job to remove all garbage and to stop all activities not related to the school.

A tough job!

To achieve this we had to negotiate with the local authorities. Things like ownership, right of way and customary law are rather complicated issues in Sierra Leone… But now there is a wall around the school and lessons can be given in a peaceful atmosphere.

There are still certain obstacles but we can continue planning step by step.

The Nurses Training is going on and in this group are quite a Number of students with FAD sponsorship.

In February and November teaching was done by Henk, Maria and Stefan. Maria mainly on psychology and human interaction, the eye doctors on eye care. Teaching is not easy: the hall is big, lots of noise from outside. But also from inside: other groups have classes at the same time without proper classrooms.

Richard in front of an overcrowded class….

Maria teaching by interacting with the class

Henk teaching

All students together!

We were able to visit nurse Duba Kargbo. She passed her exams last year in this college and is now in the Aberdeen Women Centre. She was proclaimed as “Best Nurse Of The Year”!

We paid a visit to Hildred Morgan. Only last August he finished his training as a Solar Technician. Already during his training he was spotted by a company and now he has a good job there. With enthusiasm he stresses that youngsters have to learn a trade or craft, “because that is the way to build a future and a family”.

His time for us was short: he had to do a solar-job on an irrigation project in the East.

The Technical Vocational Training in Makeni (OIC) is doing well. Here we sponsored youngsters and another ten have been enrolled. Some of their remarks:

I’m Ishaka sidique Bangura am from Magburaka Tonkolii District . I’m an orphan, I lost my parents at an early age I was struggling with my life all alone, till FAD give me the opportunity to enroll in SLOIC. I’m there to acquire a particular skill call electricity. Thank you and Allah bless FAD.

Hello, my name is Shiaka Steven Jakema. I am doing Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. After my course at OIC I want to be a self-employee to help my community people and the country at large with the problem of my own area of the skill that I studied

My name is Ramatu Sesay. I am doing surveying. I was born to a Temne parent and I lost them at the age of 13 years. I stayed with my Auntie who was unable to send me to school, and I engaged on petty trading. Until, Mr Alpheous Bendu found me and enlisted me to the FAD family. And now I happened to be one of the surveyors at Masiaka. After my course I want to help my community for them to know that a woman can also do what a man can do.

Gambia

Paulina and Augustin are on their way to their training in Banjul, The Gambia. There is a famous training institute for eye care in West Africa.

Paulina is a certified opthalmic nurse since last year and will start a training as catarct surgeon. Augustin is a Registered Nurse now going to be trained as an Ophthalmic Nurse. Both will be for a full year in The Gambia. Exciting for Augustin: first time abroad, first time in a plane!!!

Paulina and Augustin seen off by James.

EYE CARE

SECOM

Since 8 year we are collaborating with this little local NGO. Their spirit and work ethics are impressive.
Every day they have eye camps in isolated area’s. The camps are easily accessible for people with eye problems.
They perform weekly cataract operations. Fad is the sponsor for a 1000 operations yearly for the less privileged

In February, the Team, Henk, Myrthe en SECOM.

The visiting Dutch doctors pay great attention to skills, knowledge and professional behaviour of the team. They join the eye camps, check the materials and give advice.
The staff that has been trained in The Gambia (Focko,Paulina, Yatta and Augustin) have a bond with FAD. After qualification they will serve SECOM a few days per month.

Wim and SECOM staff with their document to improve competentions

On the way going we meet this sign board by coincidence, big surprise!

FAD gives support to SECOM. The common goal is to have SECOM on their own feet in 8 years. No doubt, there will be obstacles, but we have vision with a milestone for the future.

In November SECOM eye camp with Henk, Focko, Stefan and Yatta. Plenty patients in the waiting room!

During the camp there is an exchange of experiences from both sides.

Kissy Eye Centre Freetown
- For this Hospital we have Yatta Kamara in training as an ophthalmic nurse. She has the ambition fur further studies as a cataract surgeon. She got the Diploma and an Award as “Best Student”.