The Fig Tree Children live in homes with no running water, where basic COVID-19 prevention measures such as frequent hand-washing and “social distancing” are nearly impossible.

It’s important we try and do whatever we can to keep our children healthy and protected from this virus at this time. There are now 13 cases of Coronavirus confirmed in Sierra Leone and with only one ventilator and 9,000 hospital beds for a population of almost 8 million people, it’s important this virus is contained and lockdown measures adhered to. The lockdowns in Sierra Leone are usually in 3-day blocks because many people live where water doesn't just come out of a tap in their home and they don't have reliable refrigeration to store fresh or frozen food. Food prices have doubled because of COVID-19 and many Sierra Leoneans can't afford to buy food.

We would like to purchase food in bulk that we can share between the 55 households of the 75 children we help support. Buying staple food items they can use to cook nourishing meals to feed those living in their households and communities will help immensely at this time. Our programme manager, Aminata, has calculated the cost to provide onions, rice, tin tomatoes, sugar, salt, oil, tea, garri (stock) and powdered milk, etc for 55 homes is approximately $2,000 AUD. This includes packaging and distribution costs.