CHANTILLY, Virginia — In Sierra Leone, nearly 60% of the population lives under the national poverty line. Efforts across organizations are being made to aid the low-income country, but humanitarian aid can come from the most unexpected of places. The Borgen Project had the pleasure of meeting with a member of Floris United, a Methodist church in Chantilly, Virginia, whose mission in Sierra Leone offered both immediate care and an opportunity for a better future. Reverend Gina Anderson-Cloud, whom The Borgen Project interviewed, had much to say about the harsh realities in Sierra Leone, the successes they have seen, and what comes next.
Helping Children Worldwide
Reverend John K. Yambasu, a children’s ministry missionary for the United Methodist Church of Sierra Leone, founded Helping Children Worldwide (HCW), an organization that made Floris United’s mission in Sierra Leone possible. Eleven years of civil war had left Sierra Leone impoverished, children living on the streets without fathers, mothers without husbands.
In 1999, during a trip to the United States to speak in a congregation about a feeding program he envisioned, he received support from Floris, and a partnership continues between the churches to this day. Eventually, other Methodist churches across the United States would join in their efforts to aid children in Sierra Leone, turning a church mission into a nonprofit organization.
HCW initially started with building orphanages for children who had lost their parents during the war. However, it was soon after that HCW realized that they were not facing an orphan crisis, and instead focused on finding extended families that could take care of the children.
Reverend Anderson-Cloud stated, “Orphanages are not the best model of care that we’ve learned. There are ways to support families or extended families that can keep from institutionalizing kids.” These practices are being taught to other organizations that help other countries. Floris believes in focusing on the systemic causes of child poverty.
Floris United Methodist in Sierra Leone
Stationed in Bo, the second-largest city in Sierra Leone, Floris United Methodist Church reached out across several regions in the country, as travel for access to medical care proves difficult for citizens due to long stretches of rugged terrain. Because of this lack of access to proper medical treatment, maternal and child mortality rates increase due to complications.
Reverend Anderson-Cloud stated that a part of their mission in Sierra Leone involved training midwives and sending them to villages farther away from Bo to help decrease mortality rates. Anderson-Cloud describes her experience seeing a mother successfully give birth after coming from the village to Bo. “It brought me to tears. Either one of them would not have lived if the people at Floris had not been faithful to a vision where someone like her could come in and get the care she needed.”
Further medical efforts by Floris United Methodist Church included aid for citizens afflicted with malaria. Reverend Anderson-Cloud had a task of helping during the screening tests, such as helping the staff log the families and their health status. Regular funding for preventative measures has yet to be put in place for malaria cases in Sierra Leone. When Floris first went to Sierra Leone, they saw 90% of children under five suffering from malaria. However, during their summer visit in 2024, villages saw a decrease in malaria cases, with 28-30% cases diagnosed.
USAID Cuts
While describing the process Floris and HCW went through to help treat illness throughout the villages, Reverend Anderson-Cloud showed concern over the cuts in USAID. Since the cuts to USAID, screening kits were unavailable during Floris’ recent summer trip, and the medications are now at risk. “We are really worried about government cuts with some of the progress we’ve made helping people who live with HIV/AIDS, stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, or helping people with malaria.” Concerns over what the next mission in Sierra Leone will look like are on the minds of everyone in Floris United and HCW because of the government cuts.
Microfinance
Another focus for Floris United Methodist in its mission in Sierra Leone included a Microfinance practice. Donations to impoverished communities are helpful, but Floris and HCW realized that education on how to invest in those donations is even more beneficial. Reverend Anderson-Cloud spent time this recent summer trip checking in on people who were a part of the microfinance project, seeing how their lives had changed from the loans.
Some people invested in tools to help build their skills, such as a sewing kit, while others invested in supplies to run storefronts. For example, a woman with nine children received $150, which helped her buy supplies to start a small shop in the village, offering her a long-term opportunity to produce income for her family. The impact of a small loan on people in Sierra Leone demonstrates that with proper guidance, charity can have a lasting effect on lives.
The Future
Floris United Methodist takes a trip every year to visit Sierra Leone, whether it is for medical assistance, educational guidance, or simply to check in on people from previous visits. However, their work does not stop there. Floris also visits Cuba and Honduras during the winter, focusing on training women in English and life skills, empowering them to thrive in their communities. “Floris has long committed to all types of missions, be it local, regional, or international.”
During the interview, Reverend Anderson-Cloud expressed her gratitude for being in a position to help people change their lives in an environment that most Americans can hardly imagine. While the cuts to USAID will be a challenge for Floris, they promise to keep moving forward, turning faith into action.
– Matthew Perduk
Matthew is based in Chantilly, Virginia, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr