Catholic Mission
37 Fort Street
Freetown, Sierra Leone West Africa
Fr. John Thompson & Marie Carr at Don Bosco Fambul in Freetown, Sierra Leone
Director: Fr. John Thompson
Current Salesians: Fr. John Thompson, Fr. Thomas Thodukulam
Current SLMs: Carlo Fiatarone
Former SLMs: Joanna Balzano, Rob Malusa
The Salesian Missions in Freetown consists of a vocational trade school, Home for street boys, St. Augustine Catholic Church all located in a 4 story building in the heart of the city of Freetown
SLM Duties
SLM Duties include supervising youth activities, participating in all community religious activities, general maintenance of the building, recruiting and training local volunteers, organization of special events, and planning religious and educational activities. All instruction is in English, but SLMs need to be open to learning some of the local dialect (Krio). An important aspect of the SLMs’ work is their presence in the kids’ lives – caring for them and showing them love, while maintaining a good relationship with the Salesians in the community.
Accommodations
Accommodations include a private room with the Salesians. This is one room with a bathroom including a shower. A twin bed, dresser, and desk are also provided. Electricity is provided up to 10:00p.m. Daily. Daily Mass, prayers and meals are all shared with the Salesian Community at scheduled times throughout the day.
Dedication to the kids is an important quality in any SLM. Patience, flexibility, and a willingness to work hard for long hours are key. Organizational skills and creativity are also very helpful when planning activities for youth. Skills in carpentry, masonry, grant writing, computers, music, sewing and art would be most welcome!