Organization
Disability Empowerment Movement Sierra Leone(DEMSL)
Sierra Leonean disability-led organisation working to improve the lives of people with disabilities, orphans, and war-affected amputees through provision of mobility aids, education, and sports programmes. Founded by an amputee survivor of Sierra Leone's civil war, DEMSL operates in Freetown and reaches vulnerable disabled children across the country.
About
The Disability Empowerment Movement Sierra Leone (DEMSL) was founded in Freetown by an amputee survivor of Sierra Leone's civil war whose personal experience of disability and war motivated a commitment to improving conditions for others. The organisation works at the intersection of disability, conflict recovery, and child welfare, addressing practical needs that remain unmet by the state.
What They Do
DEMSL provides mobility aids (crutches, wheelchairs, and prosthetics) to disabled persons and war-affected amputees who cannot access or afford them. The organisation also runs education support for disabled children who have been excluded from mainstream schooling, and uses sports as a vehicle for inclusion, self-confidence, and community integration. DEMSL fundraises internationally to sustain these programmes.
Who They Serve
DEMSL primarily serves people with physical disabilities, war-related amputations, and orphaned or street children in Freetown and surrounding areas. The organisation focuses particularly on children and young people with disabilities whose marginalisation is compounded by poverty, conflict legacy, and social stigma.
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