BEB Equips Freetown Care Centres with Trauma-Informed Tools.

Both Ends Believing (BEB) concludes three-day trauma-informed care training, empowering Interim Care Centre (ICC) operators, marking significant step strengthening Sierra Leone child protection systems.

Held April 13–15 at Jesus Triumphant Ministries International, Allen Town, Koroma Drive, this capacity-building initiative gathered ICC staff from Rainy Season, Initiative for Women and Girls, Shiloh Home, and Feeding Centre. Representatives from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) alongside host church members also joined.

Opening ceremony remarks from BEB Country Manager Abraham Davies framed the workshop as an essential roadmap for supporting psychologically distressed children within care facilities. He urged vigorous participation, noting certificate awards upon completion.

Lead facilitator Ene Maria Oklo introduced trauma-informed core concepts, emphasising safeguarding vulnerable youth. She detailed trauma’s “Four Rs”: recognising impact, identifying signs, responding appropriately, resisting re-traumatisation. Ms. Oklo further outlined six key pillars—safety; trustworthiness plus transparency; peer support; collaboration with mutuality; empowerment, voice, and choice; cultural, historical, plus gender sensitivity—stressing these elements address trauma-related challenges while improving care systems.

Kenneth Umaru Adup expanded discussion, distinguishing acute, chronic, and complex developmental trauma affecting children and women. Using visual materials, he showed how trauma shapes behavior and brain development.

Assistant Director for Western Rural Area Foday Sesay (MoGCA) praised BEB for uniting child protection activists with caregivers. He called trauma-informed tools relevant to strengthening operator commitments nationwide. Mr. Sesay coined slogan “connect to correct,” asserting that connectivity among protection agencies and ICCs creates progressive learning pathways enhancing children’s safety, care, and welfare.

Practical sessions covered psychosocial support, managing emotional responses, understanding behavioral patterns, and applying effective parenting techniques. Participants gained active listening skills, methods to track challenging behaviours, and strategies promoting emotional regulation.

By program’s end, attendees demonstrated a comprehensive grasp of trauma-informed practices within caregiving environments. Certificate presentation followed for participants, MoGCA representatives, and contributing church members, culminating in group photographs.

This initiative marks major milestones elevating child protection, equipping ICC operators with tools needed to support trauma-affected children and women nationwide.

Correspondent-Kelvin Mark Kargbo

Email: mkelson367@gmail.com.