Background

The internal armed conflict in Sierra Leone dates from March 1991 when fighters of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched a war from the east of the country from across the Liberian border to overthrow the government. The war was declared over in January of 2002 with the disarming of more than 55,000 combatants, including 7,000 child soldiers.

Children and youth were severely affected by the decade long conflict. They were forcibly conscripted by fighting forces, internally displaced or in neighboring countries as refugees and were deprived of education opportunities and basic health care. They were subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse, and were also used as forced labor in the extraction of natural resources. Some of these problems persist, while new challenges, such as the upsurge of street children have risen.

The poverty rate in Sierra Leone is alarming. Very few families can afford one balanced meal a day. As a result, child malnutrition and undernourishment are prevalent. Ninety percent of the children believe they will die from hunger. In addition, hundreds of thousands of children do not have adequate shelter; therefore many have had to live in makeshift displacement camps made of tarpaulin. Basic sanitation, basic health programs, and clean water supply are very limited. Sierra Leone is ranked as the second least livable country in the world, with the highest infant mortality rate (one in every four children die before their fifth birthday).

This ministry has been commissioned by God to establish the Hebron House of Refuge to evangelize and provide assistance to the children and youth of Sierra Leone. Since 2000, Joshua International Ministries has established a strong foundation of evangelism and discipleship for the children of Sierra Leone. We currently serve over one thousand children in six communities through our Discipleship Bible School Program.