News & Events

KDU Global Chair’s Thanksgiving Message 2021

 

Thanksgiving message from the chair.

Dear KDU Family,

It’s time of the year when we gather around the table with our families and loved ones and pause to reflect on what we are thankful for. This year in addition to family and friends, I’m thankful for KDU Global. All through the year we might have our differences but the goal is to persevere to do our best for the organization.

Thanksgiving offers a special opportunity to reflect on our many blessings and the gifts we have received. Let us be mindful of those less fortunate and struggling in the world but especially our family, the Krios in our country.

I am thankful for all members of KDU; without you, there would be no KDU Global.

I appeal to all to make great strides forward, as there is still work to be done but when we come together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

May you all have a peaceful, blessed thanksgiving, knowing that the work you do is valued and makes a vital difference to our people and to the world.

From my Family to Yours.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Dr. P. Dougan
Chair KDU Global

11/25/21

KDU Global Chair’s New Year Message 2021

New Year’s message from the chair.

KDU Global and all its chapters in the diaspora, I sincerely wish you a happy New Year. I will also use this opportunity to thank our donors, contributors, and supporters for all their help this past year. We do appreciate their support which makes a great difference in the organization, especially in fulfilling our goals.

Let us take a moment to reflect on where we have been and where we are going. First of all, let me thank you for steering the ship with me and for the goals we have accomplished this past year. I say thanks to God for His continuous guidance and protection during this journey. Let us continue to stand firm and strong in our commitment to do what we are called to do in this organization.

Our Focus 2019-2020·
1. Different committees formed
A. Governance committee- With the consent of the Board of directors, recommendations for amendment of the bylaws will be made to the board. These recommendations will be approved by the board of directors before forwarding the amendments to the legal firm for review.

2021- a. Completion of bylaws amendment and ratification.
b. Recommendation for chapters to mirror KDU Global’s bylaw

B. Events Planning Committee (Family Reunion, All Global Social Events)
COVID-19 unfortunately hindered us from celebrating our 2020 Global Reunion in Canada. However, it did not stop us from having our 3 day Global Reunion virtually.

We started off on the Friday with the Young adults having their “Happy Hour” with the following: Krio Parables and meanings in English.

On Saturday, it was cultural night with, Krio parables, Nancy stories, Salone music and history of the Christian and Muslim krios. This was followed with the interfaith service on Sunday.

These events were very successful.

2021 1. Launching of Radio KDU Global
2. Black History month
3. 2021 Global Reunion

C. Finance Committee: The financial team was able to meet their budget target with the help of the chapters. I am in agreement with the financial team in thanking all chapters for their support. Most chapters were able to pay their dues of $500 and health outreach contribution of $300. Pledges made by chapters for the land tenure issue were fulfilled with the exception of two chapters still pending. As the organization ran out of the print material KDU Global’s Ashobi, it was recommended that each chapter contributes a $1000 or $500 according to the demand of the chapter in order to procure more.

2021. 1. Receipt of Global print.
2. Recommendation from the financial team that all future remittance and payments to Sierra Leone should be done directly through banks.
3. Donor slips will be sent to contributors for tax purposes.
4. Financial team will introduce a new strategy to raise funds for our new projects coming up.
5. It is recommended that each chapter pay a sum of $800 ($500 for dues and $300 for Health Outreach) at the beginning of the year.

D. Marketing /Media– Reconstruction and upgrading our website and Facebook were commenced.
2021- Face book and website reconstruction should be completed with all necessary documents uploaded and archived.

E. Planning Committee:  Many projects were successfully completed or in progress in Freetown by individual chapters under the umbrella of KDU Global. A few projects are listed below.
A. King George’s home (various projects)
B. Children’s Library
C. Trash cans donation to Freetown city council
D. Building a preparatory and elementary school in Adonkia.

New Chapters. Welcomed with proper guidelines and a year probation period.
A. KDU Central Florida
B. KDU Ohio
C. KDU Alberta Edmonton.

Chapters 2020 Projects

Chapters Local Freetown
North East 1.Donations to  King George’s home (basic health needs) Christmas Dinner to Residents of King George’s home

2.Children’s Library

(computers, educational materials) siesta beds for children

Georgia 1. Donations for masks to North Decatur Methodist church

2.Purchase for winter gears for honorary members

1.Feed the people at St. Charles Parish church

2.Donations to West End Clinic

California 1.COVID-19 Food drive

2.Donation clothes, toys for children, Care package to Riverside county

Living Way Nursery and Preparatory School construction
Maryland COVID baskets to senior citizens in the DC Metropolitan area Christmas cheer with food items (rice, oil tomatoes, magi, onions and monetary donation to buy entrée for their Christmas dinner to Kent, Sussex, York, Bathurst, “Fourahbay and Fulahtown

communities

London Shopping vouchers over a period of 3 months donated to the community during COVID-19 Donations to king George’s home (fridge/freezer, 3 television, sanitizing products
Southern Ontario Canada COVID-19 Food drive to the community

*This chapter has been the pioneer of KDU Global virtual reunion and support to chapter’s virtual thanksgiving services and Happy hour.

Florida Fed the homeless in the community Donations to King George’s home (clothes, hygienic packs
North Carolina 1. Donations for COVID -18 relief to Jamiul Artic and Khabatullah mosques

2. Donations to St.Peters of Pepel and St. Jude,Tombo churches

KDU Texas Scholarships to:

3 medical students

1 University student

4 secondary school students

SEPA Educational toys, books, clothes to the community of York village

2020 KDU Global Projects

A. Face masks. 2040 precautionary protective masks for COVID-19 with KDU Global’s logo on them were donated to the mayor’s office for four municipal schools in Freetown.

1.E. B. Williams Municipal JSS – 556 students
2. Aberdeen Municipal JSS – 500 students
3. D. T. Akibo Betts Municipal JSS – 610 students
4.  Fattah Rahman Municipal – 540 students

B. Health outreach Recurring Yearly project- Locations are Wesley church, which is the west end of Freetown and Bishop Crowther, the east end of Freetown for 2 consecutive days. More than 500, people would be seen on each side. Blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, visual checks, nutritional education, hygienic education etc. will done. Necessary referrals will be made for follow up treatments. This should have taken place in December but the arrival of medical supplies shipped to Freetown was delayed. This will be take place in the beginning of January.

C. Resource centers in progress– Theses centers are being set up with internet service, laptops/desktop computers, printers, access to educational materials, websites to enhance students’ knowledge and help with their school work/education.

Potential sites for resource centers setup:

1.Bishop Crowther
2. Fullah Town community center.
3. Bishop Crowther
4. Tabernacle Church

D. Solar back packs (in progress)
For merited school children. Children will be able to do their homework and charge their phones during blackout.

E. Land Tenure– Unfortunately there was no tangible result. This will be revisited with a new strategic plan/ new perspective.

F. Young Adults The goal is to have young adults (ages 18-40) in each chapter. KDU young adults continues to have a voice in KDU Global and represented in the board of directors.

The Young adults had their “Api Awa” during the 3 day virtual reunion, as well as a successful fundraising event.

Recruiting young adults for each chapter and having their own fund raising events will be greatly encouraged in 2021.

Global Projects for 2021-2022.

  1. Krio House
  2. Launching of Resource centers
  3. Annual Health Outreach at Wesley and Bishop Crowther Churches
  4. 2021 KDU Global Family reunion In Canada
  5. Solar back packs award presentation to merited recipients

KDU Global Chapters will continue with their individual projects in the diaspora and in Freetown as members of KDU Global and under the umbrella of KDU Global.

4. Strategic Plan Raising funds for KDU Global. KDU Global wants to take up bigger projects but we need finances. This past year KDU Global’s income has been from dues from chapters and the virtual thanksgiving service that was held. In order to embark on bigger and very valuable projects, KDU Global has to find outside sources through donors (yearly or lifetime).

With the above projects successfully completed this past year, I hope this answers the question “What is KDU Global doing?”  KDU Global needs financial support to embark on its projects. Let us keep our donors encouraged by being productive and transparent. We will also continue to convey our message to entities and individual donors through our purpose and the change it wants to bring about. By so doing, we will be able to convince them to donate.

2. Vision and Mission Statement KDU Global, in spite of frequent distractions especially COVID-19 hindering us from being focused on our goals this past year, we have been unwavering to our commitment in achieving our proposed goals.

Values KDU has and will continue to maintain the values respected by the organization, which are integrity, etiquette, trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, and teamwork.

Let us review our SWOT Analysis for December 2019 to November 2020

We will continue with our plan period of 2-4 years using the SWOT analysis.

Looking back on KDU Global’s SWOT analysis.

Strength. KDU is blessed with committed volunteers who demonstrated their strength, knowledge, education, and network skills through the projects that were successfully completed.

Weakness– KDU Global continues to improve on its external communication and making the organization transparent through our media system (website and Facebook).  A goal is to develop more improved, efficient, and transparent media systems with good record keeping and donors’ data base.

Opportunities- KDU Global is in collaboration with Hope for Youth of Sierra Leone. This is an opportunity to target youths of Krio Descent, the future generation of Sierra Leone by implementing KDU Global’s mission points to prepare them for the future.

KDU Global will not shy away from the opportunity to develop partnership with other nonprofits with no direct competition and also beneficial to KDU Global.

Threats- Our threat continues to be insufficient cash flow to embark on bigger projects.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 played an integral role in this.

*KDU Global will do more fund raising and generate more donors/contributors in the year 2021.

With review meetings of actual performance of the different committees, immediate corrective steps were taken for concerned committees. This is found to be effectual in producing successful results.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their efforts throughout the year. The success of our organization is built on the efforts of us all and in the past year, we have achieved some successes.

Thank you for the dedication/loyalty and commitment that each one of you has shown.

We have come through a year that was full of challenges and successes. How reassuring it is that I can count on all of you regardless of what faces us.

KDU Global and its diaspora, let us give ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done.

KDU Global, please allow me as chairwoman of this prestigious organization, to extend my personal and genuine appreciation to each and every one of you for your valuable contribution to this organization. Working with you this past year has been a pleasure and I am proud to be in this mission with you.

I offer my best wishes and happiness to you and your families as we all look forward to a blessed, successful, and prosperous year.

Be Blessed.


Dr. P. Dougan
Chair KDU Global
December 18, 2019

KDU Global Chair’s New Year Message 2020

Christmas and New Year’s message from the chair.

To my Fellow Krios, KDU Global and its diaspora, I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank you for your commitment over the past years. Let us reflect on the past years and take a look on the years ahead.

For the coming year and the future, it will be rewarding if we as one unit make some Resolutions.

Let us think big and focus on positive actions because as we all know the opposite will not help us achieve any goal. Our organization needs more than talk and opinion. It is time we learn about our organization’s fundraising plan; how we raise money and how we spend it. It is vital to know that fundraising is not just about asking for money. We do not necessarily have to be out there soliciting but by listing our relationships, meeting prospects, thanking donors by sending written acknowledgement for their support.  Being transparent is an opportunity to showcase the organization and its activities and involving donors.

Our vision of a better life for Krios should keep us energized, focused, passionate, and result oriented. Let us not feel jade or bored but rather encourage each other to remember why we really care about KDU Global and its mission.

Knowing that change is hard for all organizations, including ours, we will be open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. Having said that, let us take a look at the Bylaws for example. Is the organization complying with the operating procedures stated in the Bylaws or do we need to align the Bylaws with the organization’s current operations?

By overcoming the challenges with courage, we will grow and shine. We will create an epidemic buzz about KDU Global and be our own advocate and having fun while doing it.

Let us encourage a positive –Can do attitude by being committed because this will help us make a tremendous difference.

Let us keep the fires of passion and energy burning brightly. This we have proudly started with these projects

  1. Scholarships awarded to 3 medical students and 5 high school students. Presentation by KDU Texas.
  2. King George’s home project. This project is in different stages. The first stage is providing:
    • Water tank.
    • Nonperishable foods
    • Medical supplies.
    • Hygienic products

Presentation will be done by members of KDU North East. The other stages, e.g. providing water and electricity will be followed in due course.

From my family to yours, Warmest Thoughts and best wishes for Christmas and a Successful and Glorious Happy New Year.

Be Blessed.


Dr. P. Dougan
Chair KDU Global
December 18, 2019

KDU Global Chair’s New Year Message

Chairman’s New Year Message 2018

Mi KDU Ɛn KDY Fambul Dɛm,
Appi Nyu-ia to una ɔl. Lɛ Gɔd mek 2018 bɛtɛ fɔ wi ɔl.

As I start my second term as Chair, I want to thank you for the confidence you have in me to continue to serve in this capacity. Let me on behalf of KDU Global say thank you to our outgoing Vice Chair and executive members for a job well done. As a result of their efforts we were able to accomplish the following:

  1. Hosting of the Family Reunion by KDU New Jersey
  2. Hosting of the Global Healthcare Outreach at Regent Village in Sierra Leone
  3. Trademark of our KDU name and Logo in the United Kingdom
  4. Getting our corporate By-Laws done by a law firm
  5. Approval of The Global Healthcare Outreach as an annual event

Thank you and God bless. Working with you and the rest of the leadership has been a blessing for Krios everywhere.
As we start the New Year, the new executive will pursue the vision and mission of KDU Global. I look forward to working with our Vice Chair and the rest of the executive and members of our Global Leadership. We owe it to our members to do what is right as we go about our shared responsibilities. Let us make the following our goals for 2018:

  1. Each chapter to raise $10K towards projects in the USA and Sierra Leone
  2. Each chapter to increase its membership by 10%
  3. Increase the number of chapters by 3
  4. Ensure a successful KDU Family Reunion in London, England

I am appealing to the various chapters to work on increasing their membership and to also encourage the formation of new chapters if they can be of help. The good news is that some progress has been made; but we need to do more. Let us continue to make a concerted effort to bring all Krios under the umbrella of the KDU Global in our quest to not only live up to our motto ‘Lɛ wi ɛp wisɛf’, but also ‘Lɛ wi ol wisɛf’. Let those who come after us see our foot prints on the sands of time.

Let us continue working as a team, for in unity there is strength..
The Leadership of KDU Global and KDY Fritong wish all Krios and Sierra Leoneans everywhere a very happy and blessed 2018.

Sincerely,

Archimedes C. E. Faulkner
Chairman, Krio Descendants Union Global Leadership

In Remembrance of Dr. Ryan Bankole-Gibson

On Friday June 30th, 2017 the Krio Descendants Union Global (KDU) led by the Health Committee presented a check to the mother of the late Dr Ryan Bankole-Gibson, Ms. Nduka W Reffell.

A Certificate of appreciation and honorary Lifetime Membership with a monetary donation was presented on behalf of the group by our KDU Young Adults leader in Freetown Mr. Claudius Brad Coker

Dr Ryan was an integral part of the first Krio Descendants Family Reunion in Freetown this past December and played a very important role in the planning and execution of the KDU Health outreach, “A CHRISTMAS GIFT TO THE FREETOWN COMMUNITY” held at The Vine Memorial Mission facility.

The composite team with its partners saw almost 400 men, women and children. In addition the children were kept busy in an interactive session learning through play, dance and reading they were also given information on dental health by our volunteer dentist. The health team was made up of Nurses, Nurse-Practitioners, Nurse-Midwives, Physical Therapists and Doctors.

As a result of the success of this inaugural event,KDU Global has decided it will continue its Health Outreach to the Freetown Community as an annual event.

Sierra Leonean achieves Nursing Excellence award in Texas

Kudos to our KDU Global Secretary as she is featured as one of Dallas/Fort Worth 100 Top Nurses. See article below.

Including-Honorary-Consul-General-Mr.-Patrick-Jackson“This Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) was born and raised in Sierra Leone, educated as a Nurse and Midwife in England, where she practiced for two years before moving to Dallas. She has practiced as a Registered Nurse (RN) for 27 years total at the PHHS; 24 of those as a Certified Nurse-Midwife. She has a calling to care for the medically underserved, both locally and globally. She is an alumnus of the Annie Walsh Memorial School and the Methodist Girls’ High School, in Freetown. She is the Co-Chair of the Krio Descendants Union ( KDU) Global Health Committee of the diaspora.

Read more

Our own Hon Patrick Jackson Former Chair KDU Global

City of Dallas welcomes new Sierra Leone Honorary Consul Patrick R. Jackson

The Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the United States His Excellency Bockari Kortu Stevens formally inaugurated the Honorable Patrick R. Jackson as the Honorary Consul of Sierra Leone to Texas. The event which was hosted by the City of Dallas in collaboration with the World Affairs Council attracted an impressive audience comprised of Sierra Leone Nationals, top city council members, diplomats, business executives among others.

Read more

The unveiling of the plaque at the Cotton Tree. KDU Freetown in attendance.

Sierra Leone News: Tourism Ministry unveils plaque in commemorating Early Settlers

L-R-President-of-the-Krio-Descendants-Union-and-Acting-Minister-of-Tourism-unveiling-the-plaque.The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Freetown City Council (FCC) on Thursday unveiled a plaque to commemorate the arrival of Early Settlers in Freetown from 1787 to 1808.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the Country Tree.

Giving the History about Early Settlers-Freed Slaves, Professor Joe A.D. Alie, a Commissioner at the Monuments and Relics Commission said, “The original settlers are the Original Settlers including the Nova Scotians and the Maroons.”

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Preserving Heritage Message for the Treaty Day Anniversary at Trelawny Town, Jamaica

Melbourne Garber –

Krio Descendants Union – Extending Borders, Preserving Heritage Message for the Treaty Day Anniversary at Trelawny Town, Jamaica

Chief Michael Grizzle, Mayor Glendon Harris, Madam Minister Kadija Seisay, Members of the Trelawny Town Community, Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you greetings from your brothers and sisters of the Krio Descendants Union Global family in the United States, Canada, England and especially from the parent body in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The mission of the Krio Descendants Union is to provide a unifying voice for the Krios while promoting and preserving our history, culture and heritage through reflection, education, and charitable giving. I am the immediate past Chair of the Krio Descendants Union Global Leadership and the President of the Krio Descendants Union of the Northeast region of the USA. My role within the Global Leadership has now transitioned to the body’s Historical Archivist.

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