Business Support Gift (Digital download)

How your gift has helped Laughter Africa children in the past:

Ibrahim is 20 years old. For five years he lived on the streets; "My mum didn't have money when I was growing up so she sent me to live with my uncle who had small small money. My uncle would flog me constantly so that's why I went on the street."

When he returned home Laughter Africa paid for him to learn welding at vocational school. Now he runs his own welding business, and thanks to your support we are able to provide him new tools each year.

We could end the story here and still be proud of Ibrahim. But it doesn’t end here. Ibrahim has made enough money from his welding business to pay a long-term lease for land to build his new workshop. He’s also providing apprenticeships for other Laugher Africa children.

“I want to help other street children. I want to show them love. I don't like them to strain in the streets. I have three boys from the streets now- Wilson, Mohamed and Ibrahim- who work for me. The same love that Laughter showed me, I now want to give back to my friends on the streets. I want to help more after my business grows." We are so proud of him and his kindness to others.

As of December 2023, Ibrahim’s business is still going well.  He recently bought his own land in Mambo, paid for by the proceeds from a gate he made and sold for 17,000 leones.  He has already been to the Ministry of Lands and its all been officially registered by the Government. Just a few years he was on the streets- now he is running a reputable business and owns his own land. There is just no stopping him.

To see Ibrahim in his own words, please watch a documentary all about the work of Laughter Africa here.

On 27th May 2023, we had a party to celebrate all our recent graduates from vocational schools. Ibrahim gave the keynote address to inspire and pass on advice to the graduates. All the graduates received business support packages in order to establish their own business. We gave support to 35 young people including tailoring machines, electrical engineering tools, welding tools and hairdressing equipment. They all burst into happy tears and it was a very emotional day.

Two of the girls who received machines were Isatu and Lombai and they decided to combine their equipment and set up a joint business venture together. They have already made the school uniforms of all the Laughter children in Cockle Bay and Aberdeen. They said, “We are delighted to be able to help our Laughter brothers and sisters. That was us just a few years ago.  Now it feels like we have come full circle.” 

Another boy who received a tailoring machine in May was Ramadan. We first met him living on the streets six years ago. Since his reunification with his family, he’s stayed home. He’s 22 and for the last 2 years he has been working in a shop in town selling curtains. Its not easy for people to find jobs here so its testament to his hard work and dedication that he has been employed for so long. He found the job as he had a baby son and was determined to provide for him. Sadly last year his baby died but Ramadan kept his job determined to have a better future. He gets paid 1,000 leones a month and he is currently saving his money in the bank for his future.  He’s hoping to set up his own tailoring business this year so that he will work in the shop during the day and on his own tailoring business at night.

We also paid for driving licenses for two young people Albert and Al Hassan. As many of you know, my nickname in Sierra Leone is ‘Five-O.’ Five O means ‘boss of the streets.’ Its what you call the head gangster on the streets- a bit like Fagin. I was given the name in the first few days of Laughter opening in June 2015. Now, no one calls me James. Everywhere I go I get called Five O-even by the Government. Sometimes I actually forget my own name as no one calls me James anymore. The boy who named me ‘Five O’ was 15 year old Al Hassan. He said, “You’re the boss so I am going to call you Five O.” And those 11 words changed my life. And from that moment on, the name ‘Five O’ just stuck.

To earn a living Al Hassan used to run a PlayStation business. He would run a small shop where people would come and pay to play PlayStation games. He had 4 Televisions and 4 PlayStations. Recently there was 'bad current' and all his equipment was destroyed. This year, we provided Al Hassan with a new life line. We paid for him to get his driving license. Al Hassan is desperate to start a driving business- he just needed a helping hand to help him on his way. I am so proud of him for his determination to provide for himself and his family and stand on his own two feet. Al Hassan says, ”I want to say thank you very very very much to Five O and all the social workers for all your efforts. Thank you very much for everything that you have done for us. I believe that as soon as I get my license I will get a job. When I get a job, I believe that my life will change. May God bless everyone in Laughter. May Laughter grow more and more and more. Thank you." Thanks so much to everyone who bought the gift of business support last Christmas-its thanks to you that we were able to afford to buy Al Hassan his license.

Meanwhile this year we saw one of our boys, Albert, driving a kekeh (a Sierra Leone motorcar taxi). We never even recognized him as he had grown so much. We first met him in September 2017. Now he is providing for himself by being a driver. However he didn’t have a license- even though he could drive - so we bought him a license.