BY AUSTIN LYNCH
Brookeborough man, Fred Parkinson has just recently returned from Sierra Leone in Africa where he spent two weeks helping to construct a new school for orphans.
Fred has been due to travel out to the African country with fellow Brookeborough man, Robin Hoey but due to illness Robin wasn't able to travel this time around.
Fred's trip lasted two and a half weeks but he managed to get the work to a new school done in temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.
"The trip went well - we got the floors concreted and got all we wanted done", said Fred. "The school isn't quite finished just yet but the roof is on, the walls are plastered and the windows are in."
Fred and Robin are now planning to send a container full of materials and supplies out to Sierra Leone later in the year.
Robin will go out with the container and bring with him, among other things, printers for a printing business being established in Sierra Leone.
The container they are sending out will have on board catering and hairdressing equipment which will be used in the new businesses the aid workers are setting up for the local people out there.
Although Fred admits they have already collected and gathered most of the things they need, there is one large thing they still need - a minibus.
"We need a minibus for the school and orphanage. It doesn't have to have an MOT but must be in good working order and have a tax book. We intend to send it out in the container and fill it with other materials/supplies."
"We also need carpentry tools and machines plus mechanical tools to set Good Shepherd Ministries (GSM) up with a garage for auto-repairs. Any spare building tools anyone has are all needed to help GSM set up small businesses to make the people more self-sufficient and mostly to generate income for the orphanage.
"The last appeal we had in the 'Herald' for shoes went extremely well. Ladies turned up from Roslea, Irvinestown and several other places with many, many pairs of shoes. We got that many that we actually had to turn some people away."
In total, some 400-500 pairs of shoes were sent out. Other things they are now looking for include sports equipment and jerseys/tops in reasonably good condition.
The hope is that eventually the GSM will be able to take in and care for every orphan in the city of Kenema. Once the school is finished, the hope is to build another building for the older orphans to stay in.
Fred reports that things are actually improving in Sierra Leone, with money is being spent on the country's infrastructure - the electricity network is expanding and new roads are being developed.
The country has an accountable government and Fred notices a greater tolerance between Muslims and Christians.
For now, he wants to thank everyone who has already helped with their previous appeals and asks anyone who can help with tools of any kind, or a minibus, to get in touch with him directly on 02889531860.
