Welcome to the website of City of Rest Freetown!

City of Rest evaluates and talks about the future

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:51:46 +0100

In January and February 2010, “City of Rest” carried out a Capacity Self Assessment with the aim to evaluate the current status of the project and to prepare for the development of a comprehensive plan for the coming years.

There can be different reasons to undertake an organisational assessment. For City of Rest the main reasons were:
- the organisation is at a key stage in its growth and development, especially considering the proposed move to a different location (Grafton) and the expansion of its capacity (40 to 70 beds).
- in response to the increasing problem of substance abuse in Sierra Leone, as the only rehabilitation centre, City of Rest will have to clarify its future direction and priorities
- potential donors often require evaluation and/or planning documents.

Everyone at City of Rest was invited to participate in the self-assessment meetings: the Board and General Director, Staff, Volunteers and the Guests.

The results were presented on the first day of a three-day meeting in Gloucester, in the hills just outside Freetown. The rest of the three days was filled with discussion and planning. (External) facilitators guided Board members, staff and guest representatives through different topics such as: Mission & Values, Financial Systems, Fundraising & Sustainability, External Linkages, Programme Development, Governance, Organisational Structure and Human Resources.

Devotional times were led by Pastor Matthew Lansana, and were spent seeking God’s face and studying His Word on topics such as Vision, Planning and Unity.

All participants agreed that it was a time of immense value for the ministry. In the coming months we will be carefully working out our Action Plan, with the aim to come up wit a Strategic Plan for the years to come.

Recycle your used postage stamps

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 13:00:15 +0100

Used postage stamps van generate income for us. It is very simple - when you receive a letter from anywhere in the world cut the stamp from the envelope without damaging the perforations around the edge. It's better to leave the paper on behind the stamp or you could reduce it's value if you try to soak it off. Save your stamps and when you have enough to fill a small envelope post them to Roy & Margaret Bishop, 67 Hawkesbury Drive, Calcot, Reading, RG31 7ZR, UK. Then just keep repeating the process. Ask your friends to join in as we need a lot to make any real money.

Substance Abuse Among School Children and Youth in Freetown

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:36:51 +0200

Between March and October 2009, City of Rest conducted research into the situation of substance abuse among children and youth in Freetown. The research targeted children and youth, health workers, police officers, substance abusers, staff of City of Rest and the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. It revealed a relatively high prevalence of marijuana consumption in the target group of children and youth and an increasing abuse of cocaine, heroine and prescription drugs. Rather than focussing on quantitative aspects, the research explored reasons for substance abuse, effects of substance abuse, the relationship between substance abuse and school violence, etc. The report concludes with recommendations for the Government of Sierra Leone and other key stake holders.

Click here to download the full research report.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESEARCH FINAL REPORT.pdf

With funding from:

World Mental Health Day 2009

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:28:27 +0200

On Saturday October 10, 2009, representatives of City of Rest joined the Sierra Leone “World Mental Health Day” commemoration in Makeni. The celebrations included a march through Makeni and a symposium on the theme for 2009: “Mental Health in Primary Care – Enhancing Treatment and Promoting Mental Health.” Click here to read the short statement given by the City of Rest consultant during the symposium.

Project Update Grafton

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:25:26 +0200

Just before the rainy season started we were able to complete the fence around our construction site. We also built a generator house, and a security post is under construction. We are now awaiting more funding to start the main project of constructing the office and accommodation facilities. The heavy rains that are currently falling in Freetown remind us on a daily base of the strong need for new facilities. One of our dormitories regularly gets flooded, the building is cold and damp, there is no space to hang out laundry and hygienic circumstances are deteriorating. As a result, many of our guests are experiencing health problems. Many major donors are not willing to invest in construction projects, expecting the government to take care of such needs. However, the government of Sierra Leone has no funds to contribute towards this cause. We are therefore making a strong appeal to friends, churches and Christian institutions, both locally and abroad, to make a donation towards the building fund. Jesus Christ taught us to reach out to the poor, the lost and the rejected in society. We therefore believe this project is close to His heart and He will surely reward your contribution, however small it may be! Clearly state that your donation is meant for the construction of City of Rest facilities in Sierra Leone.