HISTORY
Hands On Sierra Leone was founded in 2016 by Sheku Mansaray and a team of professionals in the United States and Africa.
HOSL serves the families of handicapped victims of an eleven-year civil war. In Sierra Leone, disabled persons are not considered full human beings. Sheku was an amputee victim at 12 years old. He had the good fortune of being brought to the United States to receive medical help and an education. In 2010, Sheku received a bachelor's degree from St. John's University, and 2012 a master's degree from Wagner College. In 2016, Sheku returned home to see his family and to decide how he could help those less fortunate than himself. He inquired what was needed most. Each family asked for an education for their children. This was the birth of Hands On Sierra Leone.
Since then, HOSL has been changing the lives of war victims and their families still living in dire poverty in Sierra Leone's "amputee camps."
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH
Hands On Sierra Leone, our team, our donors, and members of the community participate together in a unique personal, inclusive, and compassionate approach. By transforming individual lives, hope abounds where there was none and families thrive and engage in dreaming of a future. We are changing the story Sierra Leoneans tell about the place of amputees in society.
"Small drops will fill a river" -Koranko proverb (Sheku's tribe)
HISTORY
Hands On Sierra Leone was founded in 2016 by Sheku Mansaray and a small team of professionals in the United States and Africa.
Sheku was 12 years old when both his arms were cut off and his parents were murdered during Sierra Leone's brutal civil war. In Sierra Leone, amputees and the disabled are the least served citizens.
It is his commitment to help amputee war victims and their families still living in dire poverty in Sierra Leone's "amputee camps", and to advocate for the rights for the disabled in his country.
ADVOCACY & HOPE
We strive to change the story Sierra Leoneans tell about the place of amputees in society. Our programs will give education, employment, health care, and restored morale to amputee war victims.
ABOUT SHEKU MANSARAY
I am the founder of Hands On Sierra Leone, an organization working to improve the lives of amputee war victims, the disabled, and their families in Sierra Leone, West Africa. As a child, I lost both my hands, my mother and father in that country's brutal civil war. But I was lucky to come to the U.S. and get medical care, prosthetics, a great education, and work that I can do despite my disability. When I arrived here I vowed to help lift my community from the intergenerational devastation of war. Now, with committed staff in Sierra Leone and friends and advisors in the U.S., I am finally starting to fulfill that promise.
Please check out our website to learn more about the lives of amputee war victims in Sierra Leone, my journey, the Hands On Sierra Leone mission and plan, and how you can become a friend of this organization.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SHEKU MANSARAY
I am the founder of Hands On Sierra Leone, an organization working to improve the lives of amputee war victims, the disabled, and their families in Sierra Leone, West Africa. As a child, I lost both my hands, my mother and father in that country's brutal civil war. But I was lucky to come to the U.S. and get medical care, prosthetics, a great education, and work that I can do despite my disability. When I arrived here I vowed to help lift my community from the intergenerational devastation of war. Now, with committed staff in Sierra Leone and friends and advisors in the U.S., I am finally starting to fulfill that promise.
Please check out our website to learn more about the lives of amputee war victims in Sierra Leone, my journey, the Hands On Sierra Leone mission and plan, and how you can become a friend of this organization.
THE FUTURE OF HANDS ON SIERRA LEONE
Hands On Sierra Leone is in its fifth year. We are improving the lives of amputee families and their communities. We will continue to provide education, training, and eventually careers for local citizens. We work to continue supporting children of amputees to attend and complete school. We have recently completed a building that can house teachers and visitors. We are building new partnerships and raising funds for a much-needed van to transport amputees and their families, especially seeking medical help. Part of our ongoing mission is to raise awareness of the needs of victims of the war.
We believe that with psychosocial assistance, community engagement, and a path to employment, hope and well being will return to this community.
THE FUTURE OF HANDS ON SIERRA LEONE
We are dedicated to improving the lives of amputee families and their communities. Our long-term mission includes the creation of a state of the art medical clinic: a place for medical services, education, training, and eventually careers for local citizens. We will work to continue supporting children of amputees to attend and complete school.
We believe that with psychosocial assistance, community engagement, and a path to employment, hope and well being will return to this community.
We are seeking volunteers to work with Sheku to build his organization and fulfill his mission. For questions, or to volunteer with Hands On Sierra Leone, please fill out the form below or email Sheku Mansaray at handsonsierraleone@gmail.com.