By Lawrence Williams
Freetown’s main energy provider Karpowership has handed over a newly renovated and fully equipped orphanage facility to Variety Children and Family Services. The renovation and furnishing project, valued at $70,000, was officially commissioned on Friday after months of extensive civil works.
During the handover ceremony, Emre Durmusoglu, Karpowership’s commercial operations director for Africa, said that the refurbishment included new fittings, furniture, and upgrades designed to enhance the comfort and well-being of the children.
Karpowership’s Project Manager Yankay Sawaneh explained that the initiative aligns with the company’s “One World Vision” — a global corporate social responsibility (CSR) program focused on improving lives in communities where the company operates. He noted that community support is as vital to Karpowership as its mission of delivering reliable power supply.
“Giving back to the community is as important as delivering power,” he said.
He stated that Karpowership will ensure continued support for the children’s welfare by covering the costs of school fees, monthly food supplies and sanitary needs for the orphanage.
Francis Lahai, founder and director of the orphanage, expressed deep gratitude to Karpowership for the generous support. Lahai, who established the home after retiring from the United States, said that over 600 children are currently admitted into the orphanage, supported by about 300 foster parents.
He noted that some of the children attend boarding schools outside Freetown, while one Ebola survivor is now in her final year at university. This, he said, is a testament to the home’s impact on children’s futures.
Lahai disclosed that the orphanage spends approximately $650 per month on food and electricity, mostly funded from his retirement benefits and donations from family and friends. He appealed for more support to sustain the home’s operations.
In a show of diplomatic backing, the Turkish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Yusuf Burak Rende, commended Karpowership’s efforts and reaffirmed the embassy’s commitment to supporting humanitarian and development projects that uplift Sierra Leonean children.
In his closing remarks, Lahai made a passionate appeal for assistance in developing a 3.6-acre parcel of land at Kerry Town into a fully functional “Children’s Village” which would provide a safer and more sustainable environment for the orphans.
The ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting, a guided tour of the newly refurbished facility, and photo sessions with the children. The event marked another milestone in Karpowership’s ongoing commitment to community empowerment and social responsibility in Sierra Leone.
