Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 02/00) - Foday Dumbuya hasn't talked to his mother, brother and sister for a year. They're stranded in war-torn Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.

The Yellowknife Montessori school teacher has been hitting the pavement, going door to door in an effort to raise $27,000 to bring his family to the safety of Canada.

The Salvation Army has been helping Dumbuya out.

"We've been working at it for awhile," says Capt. Al Hoeft. "The recent news events intensified the panic. It's not a very good situation."

"Canada is their only hope," says Dumbuya.

Dumbuya, who has taught in Yellowknife for eight years, wants to bring his mother, sister and brother's family over.

Freetown is ground zero for a war that has been raging since 1991. The Revolutionary United Front has been waging a campaign of torture, mutilation and murder in a battle over diamond mines against the Sierra Leone government and African-lead U.N. peacekeepers.

The images are familiar to Western audiences now. The babies with mutilated arms, teenage boys wielding machine guns, testimonial after testimonial of eerily similar nightmares.

"My cousin was butchered by rebels," says Dumbuya.

"My sister was thrown to the ground and doused with gasoline. One of the rebels recognized her, and so they let her go," he adds.

"Every time the phone rings I dread that the voice at the other end will say my mother, my sister, my brother is dead," he says.

His door to door campaign has seen positive results. He's raised $1,500 since Thursday.

"We've known him for a few years," says Daryl Dolynny, after pledging to support Dumbuya.

"He taught our children. I think the town should come together and help him out."

Sandra Dumbuya can't believe her husband's diligence.

"He's out there every evening knocking on doors. He goes to work with a smile on his face and has time for our two children Aisha and Amadeu," she says.

"It hasn't been easy. We don't know if his family is alive or dead."

"I have to raise this money as soon as I can," says Foday.

"I know $27,000 is a lot, but a billion dollars won't raise them from the dead."

The Yellowknife branch of the Royal Bank of Canada is accepting donations on behalf of the Dumbuya family.