AEGIS Foundation for Development,
Koidu, Sierra Leone

Image Gallery

The KEEPS exhibition in Sierra Leone was done through the S.O.S. Canada house, a youth shelter just built in May 2007 for homeless children in Koidu, Kono District, Sierra Leone. Kono was the district hit hardest by Sierra Leone’s terrible 10 year civil war, due to the high concentration of diamonds and diamond mining in the area. Many children’s parents were killed, or were rejected from their communities after participating in the war as child soldiers. The centre now cares for over 30 children (aged between 5 and 11 years old) full time through 12 volunteer staff. Services include full schooling (some children have been integrated into a KREBS fast-track program after missing several years of primary education), 3 square meals a day, medical care, psycho-social counselling, games and even vocational training if they choose. As well, the centre operates as a part-time refuge for over 100 children who frequent it for food, counselling, games and other forms of support.

The Keeps paintings were done by children moving into the centre shortly after the opening ceremonies which were held on April 18th, 2007. The children enjoyed the painting and, ironically, most of them painted houses or a home as the most important thing to them.

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