Forgotten Diamonds, Literacy Programs in Sierra Leone

forgotten diamonds

Sierra Leone ranks as the poorest country in the world by the UNDP, and is continuing its recovery from one of the most horrific civil wars in modern time.  The average adult life expectancy is currently at 41 years, the infant mortality rate is 1:5 (many of which are due to curable disease), and the literacy rate is less than 20%.    Sierra Leoneans are rebuilding their infrastructure, but with very little funding for construction, access to purified water or electricity, progress on basic services such as education, banking and postal service is slow.    Melonie Kastman is a commercial film maker who traveled to Sierra Leone for the first time in September, 2006 to document a friend’s fashion design business.  Struck by the warmth and kindness of Sierra Leoneans who were struggling to survive,  and wanting to do something to complement their efforts, she organized a “Secret Santa” program.  This paired families from The Bonthe Mining District and 40 families in Texas.  She personally delivered the gifts with her daughter, Ruby, including letters which sparked a Pen Pal Program.  Today, over 600 children are involved.   Melonie continues her trips, and in the process has filmed local students, teachers, mothers, professors, doctors business people and governmental ministers. When asked the most effective way to improve life there, time and again they have said that education is the key.   Melonie and Kelly Cox met in the fall of 2008.  Kelly had been searching for several years to find a way for her family (including her surgeon  husband, Clif) and daughter (Camilla, age 8)  to volunteer in a third world country.  The first trip together was Spring, 2009.  They spent a week with Melonie focused on improving the education infrastructure and a week at the Bo Government Hospital where Clif performed abdominal surgery and fistulae repair.   They formed a grass roots organization, Forgotten Diamonds.  Their work continues today to improve the landscape of literacy in Sierra Leone.

The Mission of Forgotten Diamonds is to deliver educational resources to the most people in the shortest period of time.   Being a community based, charitable organization, we invest and work with local villages and businesses in  partnership to benefit the citizens and their children.  We are working towards obtaining our 501C3 status so that all donations will be tax deductible.  This will be accomplished through a partnership with The Dallas Foundation, which has been in existence since 1929.   Additionally, we are being advised by Philanthropy Directions International on the inherent complexities of providing charitable funds to an undeveloped, recently war-torn country.   We believe we have a replicable model that empowers local villages to improve the education of its people, both children and adults.  Raising literacy ensures basic rights such as voting and gives greater opportunities to future generation who must compete in today’s global society.     Under the Forgotten Diamond umbrella, there are Nine Key Facets: Ruby Rose Educational Resource Center and Library Food for Thought Nutritional Program Adult Literacy Technology Training Agriculture and Gardening Textbook Lending Sports and Games Sewing and Uniform Assistance Art, Music and Drama   Accomplishments Ruby Rose Educational Resource Center Opening On February 18, 2009 The Ruby Rose Educational Resource Center and Library officially opened its doors in Mogbwemo.  Through the generous donations from Sierra Rutile Ltd., Paramount Chiefs, Half Price Books, The Parish Shool, Shelton School and Westlake Academy, and lots of friends and family, the library has over 35,000 books. This accomplishment has more than tripled the number of books in the entire country!  In fact, to date more than 7,000 children have had their first experience ever in a library.  We have also initiated a  mobile library program with eight routes to deliver books to schools located too far from the library.   First Annual Global Essay Contest and Cultural Exchange In May, 24 Schools in Sierra Leone and several in the US competed in an effort to promote education and literacy and to expound on the value of a library in their respective communities.  Winners in the US were awarded gift cards generously donated by Half Price Books, while those in Sierra Leone received cash prizes.  The event also served as a launch for the Food for Thought Lunch Program, funded by Westlake Academy, whereby local families prepare meals and serve them to the library visitors.

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Posted via web from Jean-Raymond Boulle