(ANS - Madrid) - If there is a group that can speak of the pain and the trauma and to overcome the Ebola, it should be that of the children. More than 16,000 of them have lost one or both parents due to this disease. Since the beginning of last year, the epidemic has caused nearly 11,000 deaths and more than 26,000 infections in Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. These are the official figures of the disease, but people believe that in reality number is much higher. The Salesians in those places seek to help children overcome the trauma and prepare them for family reunification, accompanying them, even in their studies.

When the Government of Sierra Leone, knowing the work of the Salesians with the street children, entrusted to them the task of children orphaned by Ebola, there was no doubt in accepting. That was last summer and the epidemic had hit the country and had left it without the ability to cope, with the public and international organizations having a great fear of the contagion.

Many NGOs left the camps and even religious orders have asked their missionaries to return home. The government had canceled all classes and the country was paralyzed, but the Salesians decided to stay, to take care of orphans and refurbish a space for them where they could live, socialize, play, learn and receive the love and support needed to overcome the trauma and reintegrate with their extended families.

The kids have started to smile again and have hope for the future and all are very grateful to the Salesians.

In Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, where the Salesian missionaries want to build a big center to care for all the concerns related to children and young people (street children, abuse cases, orphans ...) almost 200 children have received in these months medical care, psychological counseling, educational opportunities and the possibility to overcome the trauma that they have experienced or suffered through music, dance and other educational activities.

Even in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, more than 200 children, between 4 and 17 years old, have stayed in a center created by the Salesians for orphans due to Ebola. "Some were very weak when they arrived, unable even to speak or walk. - said Fr Jorge Crisafulli, Provincial of the West African Anglo-phone region - Now, with care and good nutrition, they have made important progress."

Posted on 05/06/2015