Saturday, 5th October 2024
Ilford, London
Occasion: Family United 10th Anniversary Celebration
After attending the Sierra Leone Sellers Union UK’s Annual Luncheon Fete at the Jessie Duffet Tenant Hall in South East London on Saturday, 5th October 2024, Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh proceeded to Ilford. There, she joined dignitaries such as Her Excellency Haja Ishata Thomas, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Kuwait, to attend Family United UK’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraising Event.
Family United is a registered charity actively engaged in humanitarian work both in the UK and Sierra Leone. The organisation also focuses on combating instances of social isolation and loneliness among members of the Mano River Union Community in the UK. Since its inception, it has made significant strides in supporting struggling families and vulnerable individuals through donations of food and essential household items.
These efforts were particularly impactful during the COVID-19 pandemic when Family United, in collaboration with other humanitarian organisations and governmental agencies, provided critical support to vulnerable individuals across London, addressing basic needs and helping to alleviate social isolation and loneliness.
In Sierra Leone, Family United has responded to emergencies, such as the mudslide disaster, and has donated more than 70 wheelchairs and 1,500 crutches to disabled individuals. Additionally, the organisation has implemented various commendable projects for schools and needy communities in Freetown and the provinces. One such project is the ongoing construction of a vocational center for tailoring in Kenema.
Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh proudly represented the Sierra Leone High Commission at this year’s fundraising event, in the esteemed company of High Commissioner Haja Ishata Thomas of Kuwait and other high-ranking dignitaries, gathered to honour an organisation that has made, and continues to make, a meaningful impact on the lives of Sierra Leoneans both in the United Kingdom and back home in Sierra Leone. The work of Family United is a testament to the positive contributions of the diaspora in helping to address strenuous challenges not just in their immediate communities but also in their home countries.
