By Alieu Amara Suwu
It was a jubilant morning on Thursday, 9 October 2025, in the Cassel Farm community, Kissy, east of Freetown, as widows and residents celebrated the official launch of a 10,000-litre Milla water tank donated by the Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation (JNJF) with support from SECURIPORT Sierra Leone. The initiative aims to ease the community’s long-standing struggle with access to safe and clean water—especially for widows and children.
For years, Cassel Farm residents have battled daily with water scarcity, often walking miles to fetch water from unsafe sources. This hardship has taken a toll on the health and dignity of the community, particularly affecting women and children, who shoulder most of the burden. The new water tank now brings relief, restoring not just access to clean water but also a renewed sense of security and pride.
The event brought together community members, local leaders, government officials, and private sector partners. The atmosphere was filled with singing, drumming, and dancing—a celebration of resilience and hope. For many, the commissioning of the tank signalled the beginning of a transformation, not just in infrastructure but in attitude toward community development.
John Kingsley Yambasu, Programme Assistant at the Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation, described the water tank project as a stepping stone toward sustainable change in Cassel Farm. He noted that the Foundation’s mission goes beyond delivering aid—it is about fostering empowerment, particularly among widows who are often marginalised and overlooked in society.
“Our joy as a foundation comes from helping the most vulnerable in our society,” Yambasu said. “We have supported widows across Sierra Leone, and this project marks another milestone in our journey to change the perception that widows are helpless. We believe in empowering them to become active contributors to their communities.”
In an emotional statement, Madam Adama, chairlady of the Cassel Farm Widows Organisation, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Foundation and its partners. Her voice trembled as she described the daily struggles women endured just to get water—struggles that exposed them and their children to risks ranging from waterborne diseases to gender-based violence.
“Many of our children have faced danger and even teenage pregnancies while fetching water from distant streams,” she lamented. “This water tank will not only give us safe drinking water but also protect our children and restore dignity to our community.”
She added that the presence of the water tank would free up time and energy for women and girls, allowing them to focus on education, small businesses, and other productive activities—key factors in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Representing the Ministry of Social Welfare, Senior Social Services Officer Musa Conteh praised the initiative and reassured the community of the government’s ongoing support for grassroots projects. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between civil society and the public sector to reach underserved communities.
“The Ministry recognises the value of partnerships like these,” Mr Conteh said. “As a government, we will continue creating the enabling environment for foundations like Jamil and Nyanga Jaward to operate and deliver services that improve lives.”
Mr Conteh also encouraged other private sector actors to emulate the model being demonstrated by SECURIPORT’s partnership with the foundation, where corporate support directly impacts local communities.
Speaking on behalf of SECURIPORT Sierra Leone, General Manager Abraham Mansaray reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He explained that the initiative aligns with SECURIPORT’s vision of contributing positively to the environments in which they operate. With operations linked to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Immigration Department, the company sees itself as more than just a business—it is a development partner.
“When I returned to Sierra Leone after many years abroad, I realised that many companies here were not actively engaging in corporate social responsibility,” Mansaray said. “That’s why SECURIPORT decided to begin supporting communities directly. Partnering with the Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation made sense because they have a proven record of community impact and transparency. This is just the beginning—together, we will do more.”
He further stated that SECURIPORT intends to extend support to other underserved communities in different parts of the country, focusing on sustainable water, sanitation, and health care solutions.
The event was not just symbolic—it was also a call to action. Community members shared their own stories and urged more organisations to step in and support development efforts in rural and peri-urban areas. Many residents emphasised the need for more water tanks, public toilets, and skills training centres.
One elder, Pa Alusine, who has lived in Cassel Farm for more than 40 years, said this was the first time he had witnessed such a gesture of generosity on this scale. “We’ve had promises before, but none came through,” he said. “This Foundation has shown us that action speaks louder than words. This tank is not just for water—it’s for our future.”
The commissioning was capped by prayers from religious leaders, cultural performances from youth groups, and a tour of the water facility. Smiles, hugs, and tears marked the end of the event, as families queued to collect clean water—many for the first time without fear of contamination or conflict.
The Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation has long been recognised for its community-driven initiatives across Sierra Leone. From women’s empowerment programmes to education, livelihood support, and humanitarian relief, the Foundation has consistently demonstrated its commitment to lifting underserved communities. Their approach combines direct support with advocacy, building long-term solutions that address the root causes of inequality and poverty.
With ongoing partnerships such as the one with SECURIPORT, the Foundation continues to scale its impact, one community at a time. Plans are already underway to install additional water tanks in other vulnerable neighbourhoods, with a focus on areas most affected by climate change and urban migration.
For the widows and residents of Cassel Farm, the 10,000-litre water tank is more than a facility—it is a symbol of hope, dignity, and progress. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved when compassion meets commitment, and when partnerships are rooted in trust and shared purpose.
