By Joseph Momoh, Reporter, Daily Scope
A delegation from Caritas Freetown has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the country’s kush crisis after visiting the Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Youth Affected by Drugs centre in Makomba Village on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
Led by Board Chairman Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, the team toured the facility off Newton to review the programme’s progress, meet with beneficiaries, and assess ongoing efforts to support young people recovering from substance abuse.
The REAR project was set up by Caritas Freetown in response to the spread of kush, a synthetic drug linked to addiction, homelessness, exploitation, violence, and the loss of education and livelihoods among youth in Freetown and surrounding areas.
The centre provides counselling, psychological care, rehabilitation services, and vocational training to help young people rebuild their lives. Project officials said 16 young girls were enrolled in the residential programme between January and May 2026. Twelve are now advancing toward reintegration through counselling, rehabilitation, and skills training.
One beneficiary, Esther Mustapha, said her recovery began after she was identified by a Caritas staff member in Funkia and referred to the centre. She recounted how financial hardship after her BECE exams led her to drop out of school, and how a friend later introduced her to kush. Without family support, she moved to Freetown, where her addiction worsened.
“To survive and sustain my dependency on the drug, I engaged in survival sex work and often slept in gutters and shop verandas,” she said.
Esther said the programme had given her the confidence to reintegrate into society and plan for the future. She is now training in tailoring after overcoming her addiction through counselling, psychological support, and vocational empowerment.
Archbishop Charles praised the project team for their dedication to restoring hope among vulnerable youth and commended the beneficiaries for embracing rehabilitation despite their challenges. He described the initiative as an important intervention aimed at restoring dignity, healing, and purpose.
Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh, Thomas Sheku Kenah, Peter Menjor, and other Caritas Freetown representatives also attended the visit.
Delivering the vote of thanks, REAR Project Manager Murray Massaquoi said the visit had boosted morale among staff and recovering youth, and expressed gratitude for the board’s continued support.
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