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In January 2022 our CEO in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Dr Abs Dumbuya, was awarded the “Commonwealth Points of Light” for his outstanding contribution to disability work in Sierra Leone. The official announcement from Her Royal Majesty the Queen came on 7 January 2022, and was communicated through the British High Commission Diplomatic Mission - UK in Sierra Leone. The daily Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.  Alistair White, Acting British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone said "Dr Abs is an inspirational figure, known and respected across Freetown for the work he does to empower disabled people through ‘The Dorothy Springer Trust'".  You can read more about the award here: https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/dorothy-springer-trust-sierra-leone/ 

 

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2015

October 2015: DST Autumn Newsletter is out now

Find out all the DST news from August, September and October 2015: Flooding hits Freetown, a new DST course begins and TRL donate computer equipment. Find out more.

 

July 2015: Learning and looking to the future in Galway

Our CEO Dr. Abs Dumbuya attended the Human Rights and Disability-Inclusive Development 2015 International Disability Law Summer School at NUI, Galway, Ireland in June. It was a great opportunity for thinking about disability law, policy and development and Dr. Abs was able to gain knowledge from a number of case studies and presentations. Dr. Abs hopes to be able to apply some of the learning to our work in Sierra Leone. He said: "I want to say a huge thank you to Irish Aid, the Irish Embassy in Sierra Leone (who are doing a fantastic job) and all the staff of the Centre for Disability, Law and Policy who put on an excellent 5 days with over 20 countries represented."

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May 2015: A marathon effort

On May 4th 2015 DST volunteer ran the Milton Keynes Marathon raising over £3000 for DST. This was the first time Laura has run a marathon and said, "I found the training really difficult but knowing I was running for the excellent work of DST in Sierra Leone really drove me on. I have met the students of DST and know how determined they are to study hard and better their lives and so 26.2 miles and tired legs seemed well worth it at the end of the day!" If you want to fundraise for DST find out more here.

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March 2015: Super fundraisers at Westcliff High School for Girls!

Over the past few months the amazing students of Westcliff High School for Girls in Essex, UK have been raising money for DST. Their fundraising efforts have included running a talent show, a quiz night and a range of fun activities within school. The dedicated sixth form team stired up a lot of enthusiasm for DST and we are delighted to report that the pupils raised over £10000 for DST's work!.This is fantastic news and we look forward to reporting how this money is used in Sierra Leone over the coming months. Well done WHSG!

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March 2015: Our first graduates of 2015

On Friday 13th March 2015 nine students from St Joseph's School for the Hearing Impaired graduated from DST. We were grateful to our special guests HE Sinead Walsh, Kitty Fadlu-Deen and Sister Mary Sweeney for assisting us on the day. A graduation ceremony is always meaningful but we think that our DST graduations are extra special as so many of our students have faced real adversity in their lives and have overcome this to work hard and gain a qualification. Well done graduates!

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January 2015: Good news and congratulations in January 

2015 has got off to a very good start with the birth of baby Issac Peter Abdulai Dumbuya on 10th January 2015. His father, DST's much loved CEO Dr.Abs Dumbuya, and his wife Mabel were overjoyed with their new arrival and as to be expected with a new baby the first few weeks of their new year have been hectic! A few days ago Issac was welcomed to the world by DST staff and students when they attended the traditional naming ceremony ('Pull-Nar-Doh'). Here are some images of our current DST students greeting Issac on this happy occasion:

 

   

January 2015: An insight into Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis

Peter Penfold (DST Patron and former British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone) recently visited Sierra Leone and found, with the current Ebola crisis still very much a feature of life, things to be quite different in the country. He also saw hope in sight though and encourages reinvestment in what will be a fragile economy post-Ebola:

"One hopes that when this Ebola country is Ebola free, the world will not think that the job is finished. It may be then that the most help will be needed to get this beautiful country full of courageous people back on its feet."

Click here to read more of Peter's excellent reflections (orginally posted on www.africanarguments.org)

 

2014

December 2014: Christmas Newsletter - Ebola rocks Sierra Leone, new students and get baking for DST.

As the tragic spread of Ebola still dominates Sierra Leonean and international news The Dorothy Springer Trust continues to stay open, operating and even offering some fantastic opportunities for our students. Our Christmas newsletter focuses on some of the positive things that are going on in our Freetown offices and of course we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful 2015! Please download our Christmas 2014 Newsletter

  

October 2014: Autumn Newsletter - Ebola rocks Sierra Leone, new students and get baking for DST.

The past few months have been eventful and challenging ones for The Dorothy Springer Trust and for the people of Sierra Leone: The Ebola Virus has devastated Sierra Leone's economic progress and has changed the way the whole country is operating. DST has managed, with the exception of a few weeks, to remain open and serving our disabled students but this has not come without its challenges. There has also been lots of positive news too though for DST with funding from The British High Commission enabling us to run a course for disabled women and a new partnership with Westcliff High School for Girls in the UK. To find out more about all of this news and how you can help DST at this time please download our Autumn 2014 Newsletter.

Our new course funded by The British High Commission run especially for girls. 

 

February 2014: New offices in Sierra Leone

During 2013, DST Sierra Leone acquired, refurbished and fit out a state-of-the-art office in Freetown, Sierra Leone. It provides easy access and modern facilities for people with disabilities to be trained in basic and advanced Information Technology skills, as well as literacy, advocacy, coaching in employment skills, and fast Internet and business services. 

Front of the new office  Interior of new offices

 The official opening of the new centre, located at at 8 Pultney Street, Freetown, took place on 7 February 2014. The event was chaired by former British High Commissioner, and DST Patron, PC Komrabai Peter Penfold, with other special guests to mark the occasion: the designated Presidential Representative, Hon. Mustapha Atila (Ministry of Social Welfare) and representatives from DST including Abs Dumbuya, Rob Lea and Mrs Margaret Atkins, Daughter of the Late Mrs Dorothy Springer. In all over 170 people attended the opening. Among these dignitaries was the chairman and chief commissioner of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, representatives from a number of embassies and High Commissions, a team of supporters from the UK and some of the successful students who had been helped by the charity. 

The plaque at the new premises of the charity was unveiled by the deputy minister for social welfare, Hon Mustapha Bai Atilla.

 

Margaret Atkins, daughter of Dorothy Springer, cut the ribbon at the front entrance of the new office for the DST SL charity.

Opening speeches: Abs Opening: Hon Mustapha Atila Opening speeches: Margaret 

 

The picture below shows some of our past students: Sheka Conteh, Adonis Koroma and Sylvester Manasaray, with patron Peter Penfold (R). 

Opening: students and Peter Penfold

New students

The opening ceremony also included the presentation of bursary certificates to seven new students. Here they all are, receiving certificates:

Alie Bangura Alie Mansaray Henry Tucker Marawan Kamara Momoh Mansaray Neneh Kargbo Osman Kamara

From left to right: Alie Bangura, Alie Mansaray, Henry Tucker, Marawan Kamara, Momoh Mansaray, Neneh Kargbo and Osman Kamara

 

The UK Harborough Mail newspaper covered the story - see here for the article.