By Yusufu S. Bangura
Susan’s Bay aged taking their meal
In their quest to support the less privileged in society, especially the aged, Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), a charitable and non-Governmental Organization that advocates for the needs and rights of the aged has yesterday launched ‘Feed the Aged’ program.
During the officially launching of the program at Susan’s Bay community in the Eastern part of Freetown, the CEO and Founder of DOFA, Doreen Barrie also fed the Aged in commemoration of their five year of existence.
Speaking at the event, Barrie stated that the organization was founded in order to serve as the voice for the needs and rights of the aged across the country, adding that old people should not be considered as liability to society, but rather that they should be given the care they deserve, because they are the backbone of any peaceful society.
She further that Feed the Aged is a new program which they would use to give meal to 100 old people in each community and to educate them about their right and responsibility because she don’t want them to have conflict with the law.
DOFA Funder said the program would create a lot of impacts by bring them together for them to get a better understanding of their does and don’t when it comes to the laws of the country.
She highlighted some instances where the right of an aged is turned around due to their approach, thus, they are using that opportunity to educate them about the rights if someone offend them.
CEO Barrie furthered that the Organization has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sierra Leone Legal Police, Human Rights Commission and other institutions that will provide free legal support for the Aged, stating that in most cases, these old people do suffer injustices in the country, but with this partnership, it will ensure that these old people get justice.
She ended by saying that the project will be expanded to the provinces even though she is facing financial challenge, but she promised to extend it as every third Thursday in the month, she will feed old people in the province.
Chief Pa Alimamy Alhaji Kamara ii also expressed appreciation to DOFA for the gesture, adding that as a Chief, he is very proud to see such move by DOFA, maintaining that there are lots of challenges faced by the people of Susan’s Bay, especially the Aged.
He also disclosed that during the rainy season, when it floods, these old people suffer the most in the community.
Also, Ritta Sia Conteh, Human Right Officer, Directorate of Gender and Childern Affairs said human right is for everyone including the aged as the commission was established to fight for the rights of Sierra Leoneans.
She stated that their mandate is to protect the rights of everyone in the country and to educate citizens for them not to engage in thing that will violate their rights.
She ended by encouraging old people to always abide to the laws of the land and if anyone offends them they should not take the law into their hands but rather report to the relevant authorities.
She added that aged people are very important in any community so they need to know their rights and responsibilities.
Mabinty Kamara, a beneficiary, expressed gratitude to Dorwontony Organization for the Aged for the gesture, which she described as not only important to them, but a timely intervention, noting that this is the first time they are experiencing such care and love from an organization in the Susan’s Bay community.
She called on other organizations to follow the footprint of the Dorwontony Organization in supporting the aged with food and other basic necessities, with the thought that they too are very important in society.
