By Ibrahim Sesay

‎Caritas Freetown has provided financial support to six vulnerable communities in the Western Urban and Western Rural Areas through its Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) Project. The initiative, funded by Trocaire, was launched on Monday, September 1, 2025 with the aim of strengthening disaster preparedness and building resilience against future emergencies. A total of Three Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Leones was distributed to 80 beneficiaries during a cash transfer event held at Rokel Commercial Bank, Murray Town Junction. The recipients came from communities including Kroo Bay, Culvert, Levuma, Wellington, New England and Moyiba.

Explaining the purpose of the initiative, Sheriff Lucky Bah, Project Manager at Caritas Freetown, said the support represents a shift in approach from responding to disasters after they occur to focusing on prevention. He emphasized that the pilot project is designed to build resilience in disaster-prone areas using the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance model. According to him, by putting money directly in the hands of households, they are empowered to adopt preventive measures that will reduce the impact of floods and related disasters.

Sheriff Lucky Bah noted that the work of Caritas Freetown, in collaboration with partners, has already helped to reduce the risk of flooding. He pointed out that while Sierra Leone experienced several flooding incidents last year, this year the numbers have been lower because of preventive measures such as drainage clearance. He encouraged households to use the funds creatively by raising doorsteps with extra blocks or adopting other simple methods that could help safeguard their homes.

He further explained that financial literacy training was provided before the disbursement to ensure beneficiaries have guidance on how to use the cash effectively. Although the money is flexible and families are free to decide how best to spend it, they are encouraged to prioritize disaster preparedness. To maintain accountability, Caritas will conduct a post-distribution monitoring survey two weeks after the payments to evaluate how the funds were used and to gather lessons for future scaling up of the initiative.

Beneficiaries expressed deep appreciation for the support. Kelvin Andrew Kebbie, a recipient from Levuma community, said the assistance came at the right time. He explained that his house had previously been destroyed by flooding and he intends to use the money to carry out repairs and put in place protective measures against future disasters. “The timing is spot on and I want to thank Caritas and Trocaire for this kind gesture,” he added.

Similarly, Yayae Kabia from Kroo Bay community described the support as an answered prayer. She recalled how devastated she felt when her house was flooded but said she never lost hope. “I prayed for God to send someone to help me repair my house and God has answered my prayers by sending Caritas. My joy after receiving this money cannot be quantified,” she said. She assured Caritas that she will use the cash assistance for the intended purpose.

Representatives from Freetown City Council and the National Disaster Management Agency commended Caritas Freetown for its consistent role in championing disaster mitigation and response efforts. They noted that the cash support was not surprising, given the organization’s long-standing commitment to helping communities most at risk.

Through the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance Project, Caritas Freetown and Trocaire continue to demonstrate their dedication to empowering vulnerable families and equipping them with the tools to withstand disasters. By investing in preparedness rather than waiting for emergencies to strike, the organizations are offering hope for safer, more resilient communities in the future. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/caritas-freetown-provides-cash-support-to-vulnerable-communities-for-disaster-preparedness/