Kidsave Sierra Leone: Reuniting Orphan with Family

For years, siblings Mustapha and Ansu Kemoh dreamed of something many of us take for granted — a family. 

They were just 2 and 4 years old when they lost their parents to the 2015 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. In the chaos that followed, they were brought to the Dawar Islamic Orphanage in Hanga, where they spent nearly a decade growing up without a single visit from a relative. Life became routine — the same walls, the same schedule, the same ache of wondering if someone, somewhere, still thought of them. 

That changed when Kidsave’s partner, IDI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, launched a family reunification effort in the Kenema District. The initiative aimed to return older children from orphanages back to family and community care — a monumental step for Sierra Leone’s child welfare system and for dozens of children who had spent years waiting. 

IDI’s social workers spent weeks gathering information, tracing relatives, and traveling to remote areas, sometimes walking miles to reach the last known homes of the children’s families. Their persistence paid off when they found Ms. Rugiatu Sannoh, Mustapha and Ansu’s aunt, living in Nomo Farma, a village nearly 65 kilometers away. 

When Rugiatu received the news, she was overcome with emotion. She had long believed her nephews were lost forever after the Ebola crisis. “They are my sister’s children,” she said. “They belong with me.” 

A hosting event brought them together for the first time in nearly ten years. The reunion was filled with both joy and disbelief — long hugs, tears, and laughter from the children who couldn’t believe they were finally with family again. After a successful week of bonding, they were officially reunited with their aunt, marking a new beginning in their lives. 

“This day can be remembered as a new beginning,” Mustapha said during the ceremony. “We will forever remain grateful to Kidsave and IDI Salone for finding us our family again.” 

Since returning home, the siblings have adjusted beautifully to community life. They now attend school regularly, help their aunt around the home, and enjoy spending time with other children their age. For them, simple moments — playing hide and seek, listening to village elders’ stories, and sharing meals — have become daily reminders of love and belonging. 

Their story is one of 57 successful reunifications completed this year by IDI with Kidsave’s support. Eleven of those children were hosted by caring families through community events held in Dama, Dawawulo, and Sendumie, where hundreds of local residents came together to witness the power of family and community. 

In addition to reunifications, over 600 people participated in training programs on child welfare, protection, home management, and leadership — ensuring families were prepared to welcome children into safe and supportive environments. 

Monitoring also remains a key part of the program. IDI continues to check in on over 100 children across 25 communities. Nearly half of those have now successfully completed their six-month follow-up period, thriving in their new homes. 

But the program doesn’tstop at reunification — it also focuses on empowerment and stability. Through Kidsave’s microloan initiative, families like 55-year-old widow Muniatu Sillah received small business loans and financial mentoring to help sustain their households. Despite her own hardships, Muniatutook in two children from the reunification program and used her business income to provide food, education, and care. “The microloan changed my life,” she said proudly. “Today, I can feed my family and meet their needs. We have a happy home.” 

These stories — of Mustapha and Ansu, of Rugiatu, of Muniatu — are reminders of how far compassion and persistence can go. Each reunion represents more than just a child finding family; it’s a community coming together to heal and rebuild after loss. 

Together, Kidsave and IDI are showing that no child should grow up without love, belonging, and a place to call home.

Links:

• Learn More About Kidsave
• Kidsave Stories and News
• Learn More About Our Sierra Leone Reunification Program

On June 11, 2025, in the village of Luawa, a quiet but powerful moment unfolded: 25 children were reunited with their biological and extended families after years of separation. 

Thanks to the partnership between Kidsave and Integrated Development Initiatives (IDI), with support from Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, these young lives are beginning a new chapter—one centered on family, love, and a sense of belonging. 

These 25 reunifications—8 boys and 17 girls—are more than numbers. They represent healing after loss. Many of these children lost their parents during the Ebola crisis or other hardships and had been living in orphanages ever since. But with family tracing, home assessments, and a thoughtful transition plan led by IDI’s dedicated social workers, they’re finally returning to their roots. 

“Children need to grow up in communities, surrounded by culture, traditions, and family,” said Ibrahim Kawa, IDI’s Executive Director and Manager of the Kidsave Program in Sierra Leone. “Orphanages can provide shelter, but not the emotional foundation that comes from family life.” 

The reunification event was filled with emotion as caregivers, local leaders, and relatives gathered to welcome the children home. Each family received essential items including mattresses, food, school supplies, and hygiene kits—ensuring that the transition would be safe and supported. 

Voices From the Day 

One of the most powerful moments came from Jestina Mimoh, who was just six years old when Ebola took her mother’s life. Now a teenager, Jestina met her half-brother for the first time in over a decade. 

“For years, I didn’t even know I had a brother. But now I have someone to call family again,” she shared with tears of joy. “Life in the orphanage was hard. Today, I feel like I can finally start living with hope.” 

Government leaders from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and the Bonthe District Council praised the reunification effort. They noted the challenges of overcrowded orphanages and the risks children face when not in family care—especially girls exposed to hawking or domestic labor. 

“This is what we’ve dreamed of doing for years,” said Mohamed Turay from the Ministry. “But it’s Kidsave and IDI that brought it to life.” 

What’s Next 

Reunification is just the beginning. Ongoing monitoring by IDI’s social workers will help ensure that each child is safe, healthy, and attending school. The journey ahead will require continued support, but thanks to this powerful collaboration, these kids are no longer alone. 

Links:

• Learn More About Kidsave
• Kidsave Stories and News
• Learn More About Our Sierra Leone Reunification Program