WHO WE ARE
ABOUT KAMARA'S HEART FOUNDATION (KH)
Mavis and I founded the not-for-profit organisation Kamara’s Heart to provide education and general health and wellbeing needs for vulnerable communities in Sierra Leone and Ghana. As a former refugee from Sierra Leone, I returned to Africa in 2019 to visit my family there and was deeply moved by the poverty and deprivation I saw. As a family now living in Australia, we could not be more grateful for our opportunities. Yet, alongside our gratitude is our heartbreak, because we had to leave family and close friends behind; something we live with day to day.
That trip in 2019 led to the establishment of a Nursery School and a Primary School in the remote township of Kondolo, Rokel, Sierra Leone, which now provides free education to over 300 students, 220 of whom are girls, and many of whom live in extreme poverty and who otherwise would have had no chance of a good education. We also established a reading club in Ghana to help children to learn to read and to prepare them to enter formal education.
We see this work as an incredible privilege and opportunity and it is really a continuation of the relentless work here and in Africa that led to me being named Tasmanian Australian of the year in 2023. It has also taken us on an inevitable journey of responsibility that we cannot turn our backs on. In Tasmania we continue to support the migrant community, helping students and skilled migrants settling here to find work, offering support with necessities such as food and clothing, finding temporary accommodation and helping smooth the adjustment to a new culture.
There are ways for everyone to connect to Kamara’s Heart. Mavis and I, our children, the Kamara’s Heart Board members, and all our volunteers here in Australia continue to give our time, resources and expertise to rebuild and empower future generations. 100% of funds raised reach targeted projects in Sierra Leone and Ghana.
With your support and donations together, we are changing lives in Africa and here in Australia and we thank you.
John & Mavis.
OUR IMPACT SO FAR
- Kamara’s Heart purchased a block of land of over 1000 sqm in Rokel village in Sierra Leone. The cost of the land was $20,000 Completed
- Kamara’s Heart built a school structure which was divided into 4 big classrooms at the cost of around $25,000 Completed
- Kamara’s Heart has been growing and is now looking after over 300 children, 220 of whom are girls, and providing free education and general health and wellbeing needs for all the children in the school. These children would not have had any chance of a better education without Kamara’s Heart.
- In 2024, KH Sierra Leone was able to prepare 15 students to participate in the Sierra Leone Education Department National Primary School Exam. This means that KH school is now officially part of the school education system in Sierra Leone and is formally registered and recognised by the Sierra Leone Education Department. This is a huge milestone and an achievement for everyone, including the students, their families, the whole community and for Kamara’s Heart. KH vision and mission is to Rebuild and Empower. Estimated cost to prepare the students and register with the Education Department was $2,000.
- Feeding programme. Kamara’s Heart provides weekly breakfast for 300 school children. Kamara’s Heart provide food and gift programs at Christmas, Easter and special occasions for over 500 people. For some children and adults this is their only chance to eat and receive a gift of love and hope at these times of the year.
- We have constructed a water well in Sierra Leone so the students and the community can have fresh drinking water at school every day. The cost for the water well and water pump was $8,000 this project is completed.
- We have completed the provision of two flushing toilets in Sierra Leone for students and staff. There is sink and water access. A lack of proper toilet facilities made it virtually impossible for children to go to school, especially girls. The cost for two toilets and water access was $10,000 This project has been completed.
- We also established a reading club in Ghana to help children learn to read and prepare them to enter formal education.
- In 2023, KH purchased a small building in the remote town of Kumasi called Nkwantakese, Ashanti Region. The building was bought to continue facilitating the book club. There are 40 children who are now members of the book club in Ghana. Every Saturday these 40 children attend reading lesson or reading school for 5 hours. There is 1 qualified teacher and 4 volunteers who take the children for reading lessons. The cost for the land and a small building was $10,000. Completed
- In 2024 we constructed a 3-metre fence around the whole school to ensure the safety of the students. This precaution came after a terrible incident when a child was tragically killed by a car while crossing the road. The fence project involved the construction of a 3-metre concrete wall fence, secure metal gates, seating areas all around the school for the students during recess and lunch breaks. Estimated cost $6000. This project has been completed
- In 2023, KH was able to organise a sport carnival for the first time for the school. Sport Carnival has been running every year due to interest and success of the program. Over 300 students and their families in the community participated. The total cost for the sport carnival is $1000.
DONATE
In Sierra Leone and Ghana, 300 children who never dreamed of school are now learning to read and write. But every week, more children ask to join our classrooms. Your donation provides books, meals, and teachers for students who would otherwise spend their days on the streets.
DONATE WITH ACCOUNT DETAILS
To pay without fees, you can perform a direct transfer to these details:
Account name: Kamara’s Heart Foundation
BSB: 067100
Account number: 10376163
To pay without fees, you can perform a direct transfer to these details:
Account name:
Kamara’s Heart Foundation
BSB:
067100
Account number:
10376163