Freetown, 13th October 2025- In a heartwarming gesture of corporate goodwill, Karpowership, Sierra Leone’s leading energy provider, has officially handed over a newly renovated and fully furnished orphanage facility to Variety Children and Family Services. The $70,000 project, commissioned on Friday, marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to community development.
The upgraded facility, which underwent months of extensive civil works, now boasts modern fittings, furniture, and amenities aimed at improving the comfort and well-being of the children.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Emre Durmusoglu, Karpowership’s Commercial Operations Director for Africa, said the initiative reflects the company’s dedication to social impact through its global corporate social responsibility program, “One World Vision.”
“Giving back to the community is as important as delivering power,” Durmusoglu stated.
Karpowership’s Project Manager, Yankay Sawaneh, added that the company will continue supporting the orphanage by covering school fees, monthly food supplies, and sanitary needs—ensuring sustained care for the children.
Francis Lahai, founder and director of the orphanage, expressed profound gratitude for the support. Lahai, who founded the home after retiring from the United States, revealed that the facility currently houses over 600 children, supported by approximately 300 foster parents.
He shared stories of resilience and progress, noting that some children attend boarding schools outside Freetown, and one Ebola survivor is now in her final year at university, a testament to the home’s transformative impact.
Lahai disclosed that the orphanage spends roughly $650 monthly on food and electricity, largely funded through his retirement benefits and donations from family and friends. He appealed for continued support to sustain operations and expand services.
In a show of diplomatic solidarity, Turkish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Yusuf Burak Rende, commended Karpowership’s efforts and reaffirmed the embassy’s commitment to supporting humanitarian and development initiatives that uplift Sierra Leonean children.
In his closing remarks, Lahai made a passionate appeal for assistance in developing a 3.6-acre parcel of land in Kerry Town into a fully functional “Children’s Village”,a vision for a safer, more sustainable environment for the orphans.
The ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting, a guided tour of the refurbished facility, and photo sessions with the children. The event underscored Karpowership’s enduring commitment to social responsibility and community empowerment in Sierra Leone.
