Haven for Orphans and Widows: Building a Better Future in Sierra Leone
Join us in our mission to uplift the lives of the most vulnerable. Together, we can create lasting change.
Our Story
At Haven for Orphans and Widows, our mission is simple: to bring hope and a better future to those in need. Founded by a dedicated group of individuals who have witnessed the profound poverty in Sierra Leone firsthand, our efforts are rooted in the villages of Rogberka, Masuba, Makorie, Masumana, Koray, Mabankra, and Makondu, near the town of Magburaka, located in the Tonkolili district, the poorest regions in Sierra Leone.
Our Story
From 2008 to 2013, our founder lived and worked in Magburaka, Sierra Leone, and helped to build a school in Rogberka. Today, we’re committed to improving the lives of the people in these villages by working on various critical projects. These include renovating the school in Rogberka, which currently serves over 250 full-time students from 6 different villages, and building a health clinic. It is our hope to build a community center and install new water wells.Our work focuses on transparency, accountability, and creating a future of self-sustainability for the people we serve.
Meet the Team
Our team works on critical projects that directly impact the community, including school renovations, a health clinic, a community center, and a new water well. We believe in transparency, accountability, and building a future of self-sustainability for the people we serve.
Our Projects
We are working on several initiatives to support the people in the most vulnerable
villages. Here’s a look at our current projects:
Current Projects
Rogberka School Renovation
We are re-roofing the school built in 2012 to ensure a safe learning environment for the children. This upgrade will provide a durable, weather-resistant space for future generations to study, play, and grow. We are also working with a Northern California school district to obtain surplus books, teaching aids, and supplies, which will greatly improve conditions for the schools' 250 students.
Health Clinic Construction
The foundation has been laid for a health clinic through the efforts of a local villager. The nearest health facility is over 25 km away over very rough dirt roads, with no means of transportation for the very ill. We are committed to building a health clinic in the village, offering accessible, lifesaving care and reducing the risks faced by the sick and injured.
Rogberka School Renovation
We are re-roofing the school built in 2012 to ensure a safe learning environment for the children. This upgrade will provide a durable, weather-resistant space for future generations to study, play, and grow. We are also working with a Northern California school district to obtain surplus books, teaching aids, and supplies, which will greatly improve conditions for the schools' 250 students.
Health Clinic Construction
The foundation has been laid for a health clinic through the efforts of alocal villager, Mr. Kamara. The nearest health facility is over 25 km away over very rough dirt roads, with no means of transportation for the very ill. We are committed to building a health clinic in the village, offering accessible, lifesaving care and reducing the risks faced by the sick and injured.
Support Our Work
Your donations go directly to our projects, with every penny exclusively benefiting the villagers.DONATE BY CHECK OR CREDIT CARD
Become a Volunteer
We welcome volunteers who want to make a difference.We are seeking volunteers to help fundraise, who have information technology skills, can assist in sourcing school supplies, building materials, or assist with administrative duties here in California. If you are volunteering to help by bringing your skills to the villages in the Tonkolili District, please note that staff and volunteers are responsible for their own expenses.Your involvement will directly contribute to improving the lives of the people in these villages. Whether you’re interested in supporting our mission, have questions about our projects, or want to explore volunteer opportunities — we are here to help.
To get started, please fill out the volunteer form below and
let us know how you'd like to get involved.
Contact Us
Whether you’re interested in supporting our mission, have questions about our projects, or want to explore volunteer opportunities — we’re here to help.
Email Us
[email protected]
[email protected]For questions about donations, volunteering, partnerships, our current projects, or if you'd like to adopt a project.
Call Us:H7077585859
A Journey of Hope and Compassion
At Haven for Orphans and Widows we believe that compassion is a direct bridge to hope. It is compassion that drives our desire to help those most in need in one of the poorest regions of the world. Our story begins in Sierra Leone, where we saw firsthand the struggles faced by orphans and widows in some of the country’s most impoverished villages. It is in these villages, Rogberka, Masuba, Makorie, Masumana, Koray, Mabankra, and Makondu, located in the Tonkolili district—that our mission took root.
The Spark of Change
Between 2008 and 2013, our founder lived in Sierra Leone, working closely with local villages to understand their needs and challenges. The image of children running through dirt paths, many with smiles despite their hardships, left an indelible mark. Their faces reflect both the hope for a brighter future and the weight of the struggles they carry every day.The image of children in blue uniforms—many with no shoes—highlights the profound importance of education. Our founder saw that while these children are eager to learn, the lack of resources, safe spaces, and even basic necessities like clean water prevents them from realizing their full potential.
The Spark of Change
Between 2008 and 2013, our founder lived in Sierra Leone, working closely with local villages to understand their needs and challenges. The image of children running through dirt paths, many with smiles despite their hardships, left an indelible mark. Their faces reflect both the hope for a brighter future and the weight of the struggles they carry every day.The profound importance of education in these villages is evidenced by the children wearing their bright blue school uniforms, while many are still without even the basic necessity of shoes. Our founder saw that while these children are eager to learn, the lack of resources, safe spaces, and even basic necessities like clean water prevents them from realizing their full potential.
Building a Foundation of Care
Our journey started with a single project: building a school in Rogberka. This was a humble but crucial step in providing children with the opportunity for education. As we worked with the villages, it became clear that the needs went far beyond education. The people needed healthcare, clean water, spiritual support, and sustainable solutions to break the cycle of poverty.We were moved by the strength of the widows—often the backbone of their families, yet burdened by immense challenges. These women remind us that even in the toughest of circumstances, their unwavering hope and resilience shine through.
The Marie Turay Story
Marie Turay is an example of our effort to support the village. We met Marie last year and learned that she is blind and as a child had lost both parents to Ebola. Her elderly grandmother was unable to care for her and Marie was struggling.
The Marie Turay Story
Marie Turay is an example of our effort to support the village. We met Marie last year and learned that she is blind and as a child had lost both parents to Ebola. Her elderly grandmother was unable to care for her and Marie was struggling.
We were able to have her evaluated at the hospital in Freetown and determined that she was eligible to be enrolled in the Milton Margai School for the Blind. HOW was able to enroll Marie and is supporting her by paying her tuition, room, and board. One year later Marie is happy and thriving.
We were able to have her evaluated at the hospital in Freetown and determined that she was eligible to be enrolled in the Milton Margai School for the Blind. HOW was able to enroll Marie and is supporting her by paying her tuition, room, and board. One year later Marie is happy and thriving.
Future Projects
Today, Haven for Orphans and Widows continues its work with a focus on holistic development. The following projects reflect our commitment to creating a sustainable and thriving future for these villages:
Community Center: We are building a dedicated community center that will serve as a gathering place for meetings, educational programs, and skill-building activities. This center will strengthen connections among villagers, support learning opportunities, and provide a safe, welcoming space for the entire community.
Water Well Project: Access to clean water is essential. We are constructing a water well to ensure the villagers have a steady, safe, and clean water source—improving health, hygiene, and reducing the time spent collecting water.
Future Projects
Today, Haven for Orphans and Widows continues its work with a focus on holistic development. The following projects reflect our commitment to creating a sustainable and thriving future for these villages:
Water Well Project: Access to clean water is essential. We are constructing a water well to ensure the villagers have a steady, safe, and clean water source—improving health, hygiene, and reducing the time spent collecting water.
Community Center: We are building a dedicated community center that will serve as a gathering place for meetings, educational programs, and skill-building activities. This center will strengthen connections among villagers, support learning opportunities, and provide a safe, welcoming space for the entire community.
Empowering Through Education and Sustainability
The villages are working hard to provide for themselves, but we know that true empowerment comes through education and training. With each child who steps into a classroom and each adult who learns a new skill, we are helping to create a self-sustaining future.In these images, we see children playing and working together, united by a spirit of hope. Every smiling face, every pair of hands that clap and cheer for one another, is a testament to the strength of the people we are privileged to serve.
Our Promise: Transparency and Accountability
At Haven for Orphans and Widows, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of transparency and accountability. Every donation and contribution goes directly to these projects that make a real difference in the lives of the people of these villages.We understand that the trust you place in us is sacred, and we are committed to showing you the impact of your support.
A Vision for the Future
As we continue to work in the various villages, our vision is clear: a future where orphans and widows no longer have to face life’s challenges alone; a future where the children who grow up in these villages have the opportunity to pursue their dreams, equipped with education, health, and the support of a thriving community.The path is long, and the work is far from finished, but with your help, we are confident that together, we can create a brighter future. The images we’ve shared are a glimpse of the hope, resilience, and strength that the people of these villages possess.Please contact us for more information.