Phase 1: The barray project
The Barray Project is the construction of a medical clinic in the village of Yarawadu, in the Kulor-Saradu Chiefdom of Sierra Leone. Once complete, the clinic will give residents access to health screenings and basic medical care that, until now, has required traveling significant distances over difficult terrain to reach.
Construction has been underway for two years. This is not a future plan. It is a building actively being built, with real progress and real obstacles, and we want to be honest about both.
Where things stand
Construction of the clinic has been in progress for three years. Like most building projects in rural Sierra Leone, the work has not moved in a straight line. Two challenges in particular have shaped the pace:
The rainy season
Sierra Leone's rainy season slows or halts construction for months at a time. Heavy rainfall affects everything from the foundation work to the curing of materials, and crews are often unable to safely continue building during the heaviest stretches of the season.
Terrain and material transport
Yarawadu is reached by roads that are difficult to navigate even in dry conditions, and become significantly harder during and after rain. Getting building materials such as cement, lumber, and equipment to the site is a constant logistical challenge, and it is one of the largest factors affecting how quickly construction can move forward.
We share this not to discourage support, but because we believe donors and partners deserve an honest picture of what it actually takes to build something in a place like Yarawadu. Every dollar contributed goes toward solving real, specific problems: getting materials to the site, keeping construction moving between rainy seasons, and finishing a clinic that the community has waited years for.
Why this matters
A clinic only changes outcomes if people can reach it and if it is properly staffed and equipped once built. The Barray Project addresses the first and most foundational piece: a physical facility where care can actually happen.
Once the clinic is complete, it will work alongside two other efforts within the Health is Wealth Foundation's broader mission: Community health worker training and transportation.