Karpowership has formally handed over a fully renovated Variety Children and Family Services Home in Kingtom, Freetown, as part of a new round of corporate social responsibility initiatives in Sierra Leone. The handover ceremony on Friday, October 10, 2025, marked the end of a comprehensive refurbishment funded by the company and reinforced Karpowership’s commitment to continuing to support vulnerable children in the country.
Emre Durmusoglu, Karpowership’s Commercial Operations Director, stated that the company invested around $70,000 in the project. The funds were used to replace and upgrade the building’s structure, furniture, equipment, and utilities, resulting in a more conducive and humane living environment for the children. “Every component of the orphanage has been renewed,” Durmusoglu said, emphasizing that the overhaul was intended not only to improve the facility’s appearance but also to ensure residents’ safety, functionality, and dignity.
Durmusoglu added that Karpowership will continue to fund the home’s monthly consumables through a local partner, reinforcing the company’s commitment to long-term social investment rather than a one-time donation. He also emphasized Karpowership’s broader regional engagement, citing the company’s history of supporting humanitarian projects throughout Africa and its plans to expand its CSR footprint even further. Yankay Sawaneh, Karpowership’s Project Manager in Sierra Leone, described the renovation as an example of the company’s “One World” philosophy, which aims to create meaningful, long-term change in the communities where it operates. He emphasized that the refurbishment will breathe new life into the orphanage and directly improve the children’s daily living conditions. Aside from the physical work, Sawaneh stated that the company has committed to ongoing support, which includes paying school fees, providing monthly food items and sanitary materials, and ensuring continuous care for the children.
Sawaneh also cited Karpowership’s previous community engagements as evidence of consistent dedication. The company has supported relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and has held annual Ramadan giveaways, which he says demonstrate a long-term relationship with local communities that complements Karpowership’s energy projects.
Variety Children and Family Services’ director, Francis Lahai, saw the intervention as both timely and transformative. Lahai described the orphanage’s financial challenges, with feeding and electricity being among the highest recurring costs. He revealed that the organization currently supervises over 675 children and works with over 300 foster parents in Sierra Leone as well as neighboring Guinea and Liberia. The home’s track record, he said, includes successes like an Ebola orphan who is now in her final year of university studying Accounting and Finance—an example he used to demonstrate the long-term impact of ongoing support.
Despite the renovations, Lahai emphasized that space remains a major constraint. He appealed for ongoing partnerships to help develop a 3.6-acre “Kids’ Village” at Kerry Town, which he said would serve as a lasting legacy for vulnerable children while also providing much-needed additional capacity and services The ceremony also attracted diplomatic recognition. Burak Rende, Turkey’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, praised Karpowership’s social development efforts and emphasized the importance of corporate initiatives that go beyond commercial operations to improve the lives of Sierra Leoneans. Ambassador Rende stated that the Turkish Embassy will continue to support CSR initiatives, particularly those coordinated with the Ministry of Energy, and emphasized the importance of investing in children as future leaders in the social, economic, and political spheres.
Nour Hashim, a Karpowership representative, summarized the company’s motivation by saying the initiative reflects a belief that true progress entails more than just providing electricity: it entails empowering communities and investing in the well-being of future generations. “Investing in the welfare of children is an investment in the nation’s future,” Hashim stated, emphasizing the company’s dedication to initiatives that improve lives and strengthen hope throughout Sierra Leone.
Since launching operations in Sierra Leone in 2018, Karpowership has emphasised its role in providing the country with reliable and affordable electricity, as well as pursuing a variety of social welfare projects. The renovation of Variety Children and Family Services adds to the company’s growing portfolio of community support initiatives across the continent, reinforcing the company’s stated belief that sustainable development is achieved through a combination of energy provision and compassionate social investments.
