By Halimatu Sadia Kargbo (Empress Afrique)
The Sierra Leone Aid Initiative (SLAI), an organisation based in the United States of America, with operations in Sierra Leone has donated assorted school materials including brand new school bags, exercise and text books for all faculties and school uniforms to less privileged pupils across Freetown.
The donation ceremonies were held at the REC Primary School compound and the Network for Children in Need at Allen Town and Jui on 24th and 26th September, 2021 respectively.
Country Representative for SLAI in Sierra Leone, Theresa Rose said the aim for the gesture is to boost the government’s free quality education drive, adding that SLAI wants to give back to communities, especially to the less privileged.
According to her, they have targeted pupils who are less privileged so that they can have materials to access the free quality education.
She said the mastermind behind the donation is a philanthropist based in Minnesota, USA, Jonathan Rose, with support from the Grace Lutheran Church in Minnesota.
She said the donors have assured that they will withhold their support until they ensure less privileged students, especially the orphans, have good quality education as the privileged. She assured that SLAI with more supports from Grace Lutheran Church will continue its supports to the less privileged.
Targeted beneficiaries of SLAI’s numerous donations include pupils from the Kissy Infant Municipal Primary School in Kissy, REC Primary School in Jui, Haja Fatima Primary School in Jui, Hunting Don Secondary School in Jui, Salam Secondary School in Grafton, Ansarul Primary School and the Ansarul Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary School in Rokel.
Other pupils from the Climax Primary School in Rokel, Lorenzo Secondary School in Rokel, VEM Primary and Junior Secondary School in Allen town, Government Model Secondary School, Planting Promise Primary School, Tower Hill Municipal School, Ahmadiyya Secondary School In kissy, Grassroots Community Primary School in Kissy, Moeba Community Primary School in Kissy, Saint Helena Secondary School, Beacon of Hope Academy Junior Secondary School in Rokel, Glorious International Elementary School in Rokel and the Cambridge Secondary School in Wellington also benefited from the donation.
The Sierra Leone Aid Initiative is not only targeting less privileged pupils but also has donated school items to Network for Children in Need Orphanage Home situated at Furniture Allen Town who are re regular benefactors of all donations made by SLAI.
These donations were made during the reopening of schools on 17th September, 2021.
Speaking with some of the beneficiaries of the donations, the pupils were happy as some of them were not expecting support and they thanked the Sierra Leone Aid Initiative and its country representative, Theresa Rose for the support.
