Our Work

Projects in Bangbutt
When the war ended, it was very clear that Bangbutt needed much more than the friendship our link had originally provided. They identified many needs, including a new well and school. Assessing these requests was difficult from so far away, and a visit to Bangbutt became a priority if our work was to go further and succeed.

In January 2005 two committee members visited Bangbutt, at their own expense to try to establish wider links, gather information and meet village people.

This led to contact with SLYEO the Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Organisation, an NGO. Through them we made contact with Sammy Stober- Taylor who has given us an incredible amount of advice and support with our projects. He has regularly visited Bangbutt, as have other people from SLYEO, and reported back to us. He has visited us in Youlgrave when he has been here training to become a Methodist minister. He is now Rev Sammy Stober-Taylor.

When asked about their needs in 2005, the villagers said their first priority was a source of clean water. A new well was constructed and in operation by August 2005.

This was followed, in December 2005, by the construction of a latrine for each of the 21 houses. Each household has about 5 families.

In June 2006 YBVL agreed to part fund a literacy scheme with the Methodist Relief and Development Fund. This involves five small villages in the Tonkilili area, one of which is Bangbutt. We have a commitment for four years to provide at least £3,000 annually to this scheme. It aims to give the villagers the skills they need to help them develop crafts, agriculture and communications within their communities.

Other projects have been to set up a women's tailoring group with training and to provide a small goat herd with training in animal husbandry.

Our main aim has always been to build a new school.
In January 2007 we sent out money to buy building materials. The area also needed a clinic and so we decided to build one along with the school. There are lots of photographs and information about this and our other projects on the website. Please have a look. There is a attachment on the AGM page which was the presentation given at the 2008 AGM. It gives a very good overview of everything that has happened this year.

Samuel Bangura (a teacher in the village) and his wife have recently agreed to be our contacts with Bangbutt. They will keep us informed on what is happening and answer any questions we have. He sent us the following letter to confirm this.