december 2016
Foundation Help Sierra Leone agriculture programme aims to enhance food security through modern technology9 a tractor) and quality inputs whilst supporting communities through the formation of community agriculture promoters. As a small Foundation, our help include training farmers, establishing demonstration farms and per acre gardens, producing and distributing quality seeds, providing inputs and tools to farmers along with organising nutrition awareness campaigns. To assist the farmers in curbing malnutrition help women to support their homes, the Foundation volunteers meet regularly for consultation. So far, the programme covers three (3) villages since august with more than 61 beneficiaries. Since its inception in 2014, FHSL supports communities in Sierra Leone with tractor, fertilizers, seeds and advices
Our agriculture programme is a tractor and seed provision, our small help works to develop the technical capacity of farmers, promote participation in agricultural activities and create awareness on the important of agriculture.
Kadiatu Bangura achieving food sufficiency
My name is Kadiatu Bangura and I am a backyard gardener at Mabrown village. I used to farm close to my house and I sell most of my crops locally. Before joining the agriculture programme of FHSL, I was not harvesting enough crops to sell and the income was not enough to fulfil my family’s basic needs. When I heard about FHSL agriculture for women, I immediately went to discuss about modern methods on harvesting crop. The programme organizer asked me to join the agriculture programme. In January, 2016 I joined FHSL and was selected for a training on proper seed bed construction and vegetable production, which was provided by FHSL agriculture programme. After training I received some basic farming inputs such as vegetables seeds, and fertilizers and tractor support. The training helped me understand the methods of modern farming. When harvesting, I make sure there is adequate space between the crops. Using fewer amounts of seedlings, I have been able to increase the yield. I sell my crops to people in my community, and share best practices with farmers. I have noted all the farming activities provided to me by FHSL. I also keep track of my total expenses. I encourage farmers who cultivate vegetables to sell them so that they can generate income that will upkeep their livelihoods and also consume some of their self-grown vegetables, so that they have a nutritious diet. I am grateful to FHSL for training me as a model farmer. I hope to increase my yield further and gradually expand my cultivation in a bigger land
I am Monde Kai Koroma and I trade wood to earn my living. I have been a client of Foundation Help Sierra Leone (FHSL) microfinance programme since 2009. Before joining FHSL, I was a petty trader selling biscuits and local snacks. I was not earning enough and could not afford to send my children to school. I first heard about FHSL microfinance programme from a neighbor. I contacted a field officer of the Foundation to find out how they can support my business grow. After joining as a member, I took my first loan of € 100 (SLL 450,000) and invested the money into my business. My income from the petty trading grew gradually and I began to earn enough to send my children to school. After paying my loan (SLL 500,000) I decided to switch my line of business and move into selling wood. Initially I used to buy wood in bundles and sell it in front of my house. After progress in my business, I started buying in bulk for wholesale. I haven’t looked back since then. Today, I can take care of my family’s needs. I can afford to send both my children to school. I am the biggest supplier of wood in my community Waterloo, and I plan to expand my business further. I want to set up a ladies’ garment and footwear store from my profit of € 300 (SLL 3,000,000) . It will help create employment for women in my community.
september 2012
Fanta Kamara
is a married woman. She has 3 children. She describes herself as an honest and social woman. She operates a retail stall where she sells soft drinks, biscuits, chocolates, and other items. Her business is located in a densely populated area and her primary customers are residents. She describes her biggest business challenge as insufficient funds for improving her business. She will use this 250,000 Leones (€50) loan to buy soft drinks, sweets and biscuits to sell. Her business goal is to be a supplier of soda within 5 years. She hopes that, in the future, she will expand her business and retorns 50 Euro back in Three months times. This is her first loan with Foundation help Sierra Leone.
Jebeh Brima is a resident of the Waterloo Village area . She is a married mother of two children. Jebeh owns a food stall business, mainly dealing in popcorn, and has been running this business since we offer her 50 euro. She learnt about Foundation Help Sierra Leone, from a a friend and joined the women’s wing of the Foundation with an aim of accessing credit to improve the operations of her business. Her main challenge is occasionally limited customers. She has seen some growth in the business and would like to set up another stall, but after she returns her initial 50 Euro. Jebeh is applying for more loan to purchase a popcorn making machine. The extra income from the loan will be added to her savings to improve the living standards of the family, especially the education of her children. She aspires to own a café in future.
Mariama Turay is married and has four children. She used her previo us loan from the 
Foundation Help Sierra Leone to buy clothes, shoes and cosmetics. Her small boutique did very well, and she successfully repaid last month to another woman by the name of Mary. She is requesting a new loan to buy clothes, blankets, sheets and shoes. She hopes to have a big boutique and to own a supermarket someday.
Fanta lives in the Lumpa area waterloo. She is a married mother of four children. She owns a green grocery stall that she has been operating for four years. In this business, Fanta sells greens, fruits, vegetables, etc. The family also earns some income from farming. Fanta learned about Foundation Help Sierra Leone through a Isata our female coodinator, and joined with an aim of accessing credit to improve the business operations. The challenges she is facing are inflation and the high costs of
transportation of products from the source to her business site. Fanta has been offered a loan of
250,000 Leones(€ 50) to buy greens, other vegetables, and fruits. The extra income from the loan will be added to her savings to expand the business and pay for her children’s school fees. Her plans for the future are to start other businesses and also open stalls in different areas.
Aminata
is a 25-year-old woman, single, and lives in the city of Newton with her parents and siblings. She is a very happy, hardworking and enthusiastic person who has a great desire to succeed. Sadly, because of a lack of economic resources and her need to work to support her parents, Aminata was not able to study for the nursing degree she wanted, but she would have liked to have been able to do it very much. In her free time, she likes to play sports, and on some occasions, she cooks a very tasty rice with duck to share with her family.
With much effort, dedication and help from Foundation Help Sierra Leone, Aminata began her small business selling groceries and drinks. Every day, she starts work early in the morning. She can serve approximately 25 customers, and she believes that things are going well due to her good service. Aminata is very grateful for Foundation Help Sierra, because the help given will allow her to buy merchandise for her business, such as rice, sugar, oil, milk, mixed vegetables, noodles, soft drinks, among other things. In this way, she will have a better-stocked business with which she hopes to be able to raise her sales and increase her income. This will help her a lot to be able to grow her business, and she hopes to be able to achieve her great dream of having her own house and her own premises for developing her, Aminata also helped to plant at the foundation Company last April.
Florence Kargbo
is well. Married, she is mother to one child. she is 33 years old and doesn’t go to school. She has 2 people under her care she has been a caterer (cakes) for 2 years. She gets her supplies in the surrounding stores. Her customers are the storekeepers and the kiosks. Florence obtained loan from the Foundation last June, she decided to buy herself 2 bags of wheat flour, one 20L can of oil and one bag of sugar. With her profits, she wants to save. Florence has the ambition of improving her business (buying ovens for the preparation of cakes) and helping her husband with the family responsibilities.
