Pikin Bizness works to support children by providing health related assistance, economic and educational support to the child survivors of the post conflict period in Sierra Leone. Pikin Bizness focuses its activities on children, who have the greatest capacity to transcend the conflict of their communities and to bring about change in the future. These children within the society offer the best h
ope for change, and are increasingly amongst the most vulnerable in conflict situations. Pikin Bizness works and operates in Sierra Leone to create a safe environment where trained key workers can provide a climate of support and mentoring tailored to the needs of children and their environment. In January 2001, three people came together; Dr Adonis Abboud, Shellac Sonny Davies and Barbara Bangura, and launched a Charitable Organization called Pikin Bizness. The first three years, in collaboration with WFP, the US Embassy and UNAMSIL, with sponsorship from DSTV/SL, a helicopter was flown country wide during the Christmas holiday on each of these years, distributing gifts ranging from sweet, drinks, radio sets, school bags, to educational materials etc, to children Karitas Makeni [A Catholic NGO], International Medical Corp,[IMC] and other NGOs helped in identifying the children . Four years later, in 2005, having spotted a campaign launched by the Exclusive Daily Newspaper, advertising and appealing for help of Abu Bakarr Jalloh, a six year old with a hole in his heart, Pikin Bizness embarked on a larger campaign targeting mainly children with heart deficiencies, especially children with holes in their hearts and other related diseases. After the campaign by exclusive, Pikin Bizness then embarked on a larger campaign in the country to raise fund in order to save the life of a young boy who was about to die. Because being born in Sierra Leone means that you have no chance of obtaining a heart operation let alone a simple non intrusive sonogram test needed for detecting and diagnosing not only heart problem but birth defect in pregnant women and other health problems. In order to save this boy donation were made by some citizens and members of Pikin Bizness to facilitate the trip abroad for an open heart surgery. Since November 2005 to date, six children have been flown to France for cardiac treatment which cost the organization more than ten (ten) thousand euros per child. Apart from heart cases the organization has helped other children suffering from other diseases. The organization does not only deal with children suffering from heart deficiencies its also caters for children suffering from different diseases such as Hydrocephalus, liver, kidney, urinary leakage and a lot more diseases. Even though the organization is non governmental it works in collaboration with both the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and that of Gender and Children's Affairs to help develop the health sector and protecting and promoting the right of children in the country. Pikin Bizness and the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs have succeeded in reducing the number of street children living on the streets by giving them scholarship for Primary, Secondary and Tertiary level. Some of these children were taken from the street and living a better life. With the help of this organization a number of six childrens lives have been saved that were suffering from hole in the heart. Five children were flown from Freetown to France in order for them to have Open Heart surgery while one went to Germany where he was operated on. Also, young Francis who was suffering from hydrocephalus was flown to Kenya for treatment. In a most recent development Pikin Bizness sent baby Ngauja to Egypt as he was suffering from lower abdominal wall defect. The aim of the organization is to provide Economic and social well being for marginalized children and reduce the number of children living on the streets due to the effect of the civil conflict that the country experienced. By been here you have shown that you have a heart to reach out and give to children who may never get the chance to say 'Thank you' in person. On their behalf we would like to say 'Thank you'..
