I was last here in 2014 with plans to return the following year to help lead a LemonAid Fund Women's Journey. Unfortunately, the Ebola Outbreak cancelled those plans.  Now stepping off that plane and looking at the clear sky and smiling faces who greeted us, I was quickly reminded of all the reasons why I fell in love with this place years ago.  Nancy and I were met at the airport by Ali (see photo) who helped arrange our transport (bus and then boat) to Freetown as well as outfit us with a local sim card and data/minutes.  The tumult at the airport as we waited for tickets made me smile and want to pinch myself. I was finally back in a country that I had raised money for, collected books for (more about that later), read about, had life-changing experiences in and for now, most importantly, here to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the LemonAid Fund. 

While I pride myself in knowing the work that Nancy has done over the years, yet each time I return here I am amazed at the magnitude of her achievements.  She has been immersed in Sierra Leone for over 20 years, built relationships, supported projects, seen kids graduate, helped change policy and to quote her "helped people's dreams become a reality". 

As I walked up the steps at the Dele-Peddle School (see pic) today I got that same emotional feeling as I did that first time.  This was a dream that the Proprietress, Francess Browne, which became a reality with the help of LAF.  It is now the number one school in Sierra Leone (by test scores) and the kids who attend are getting an incredible education.  As I walked from room to room I saw kids ranging from ages 2-18 with their school uniforms on sitting attentively at their desks.  The younger ones were packing up to go home and the older ones were working on their mid term exams.  The feeling in the school is that learning is important.    It's a place where kids learn academics but also learn life skills.

We spent hours planning for the February 22nd celebration but also for all the details for the arrival of the Reinhardt Family.  Kathy Reinhart has been a friend of mine for over 30 years, had registered to go on the Sierra Leone Women's Journey and a supporter of the LAF. She is making the journey here with her twin sons, Quinn and Oliver.  This is a fulfillment of a dream we have created together.  Supporting dreams is what LemonAid Fund is about, along with making "Lemonade" in a sustainable way.  They will see how sustainability and LAF go hand in hand.  Stay tuned.  Vicki

Twenty three years ago today I arrived in Sierra Leone for the first time.  The sky was pretty much the same, dusky blue with hints of pink as the sun set while almost everything else was different.  Then, the country was in the middle of a civil war, I knew no one and I had never been to Africa let alone Sierra Leone.  How different this arrival was as I traveled with my friend of 49 years, yet it held the same magic of Sierra Leone that I have come to know. We were greeted by the smiles of some of the Brussels Airline workers (parents of children at the Dele School), welcomed by Ali who shows up at the airport every time I arrive and depart, circled by those I have come to know selling sim cards and minutes for our phones and then whisked onto the shuttle for the Sea Coach which would take us from Lungi (the airport town) across the river to Freetown.  

After a 30 minute boat ride we arrived at the Aberdeen bridge, we walked off the boat to a sea of people in brightly colored clothes waiting for passengers to disembark and collect luggage. The cacophony of sound and excitement brought us new energy after a long trip.  Francess (who I trained 23 years ago in psychosocial practices) and Christie her daughter were waiting for us with huge smiles and hugs.  As wonderful as this reunion was, it was not the magic I have come to equate with Sierra Leone.  What was quite amazing was that I saw a sign with Mike Wessels's name on it.  I had met Mike 23 years ago and we had both consulted on the same project; Kids in Distress with Child Fund which employed Francess as well.  I couldn't have organized such a meeting even if I had tried. As I hugged Mike my eyes caught a glimpse of another sign with Helen Appleton's name on it, another person I met years ago and now only consults in Sierra Leone periodically.  I would never have taken a bet that I would have come in on the same plane at the same time as these two remarkable people doing such good work in the world.  A great way to start an incredible two weeks of celebration.  Nancy

it's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since the inception of the LemonAid Fund (LAF).  I remember so clearly sitting at Denny's Diner in Highland Park, Illinois ( at 3am) with Nancy Peddle and Andra Barmash Greene Ellingson having a delicious and greasy meal and recapping the prior evenings events.  We had just attended our 20th High School Reunion and there was much to discuss!!!  It was during that chat that I learned that while Andra and I were returning to our respective homes (California and New York) that Nancy was traveling to a place that I couldn't easily locate on a map.....Kuala Lumpur.  I returned to New York, got out the Atlas, and located it on the map.  I knew that whatever work Nancy was doing around the world as an International Psychologist I wanted to follow and someday be a part of.  She and I have had a long friendship (over 49years) and I have been fortunate to be part of the LAF Family as a donor and more recently as the LAF Liaison.   This journey back to Sierra Leone is about celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the LemonAid Fund but it's also about celebrating all the people who have been enriched by Nancy's work.  For me, it's also about celebrating 49 year of friendship.  Who would have thought that two girls from Highland Park, Illinois who became friends at 14 would end up traveling the world and teaching people that Forgiveness, Gratitude and Appreciation is available to all of us...even if you have suffered extreme trauma.  My growth as a women, mother, friend, nurse..... etc. has been enormous from the work that I have had the privilege of being a part of with the LAF.  Let the journey continue! Vicki