By Ibrahim S. Bangura
On January 20, 2024, Peter Bayuku Konteh, representing Africa Global Logistics (AGL), distributed school materials to Senekedugu Secondary School in Koinadugu District as part of efforts to support education and empower children in one of the remotest parts of Sierra Leone.
Senekedugu, a Madingo community in Koinadugu District, faces significant challenges regarding access to quality education due to its remote location and limited resources. AGL which manages part of the seaport in Freetown, extended this gesture of support to address these challenges.
The materials distributed included 200 school bags, each containing essential learning items such as 12 notebooks, 3 pencils, pens, sharpeners, and erasers. “All these are for the pupils,” Konteh emphasized, underscoring the importance of equipping children with adequate materials to support their educational journey. “They are not for sale,” he further cautioned.
The donation event was met with enthusiasm and gratitude from various stakeholders in the community. Students, parents, teachers, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the occasion.
The principal of Senekedugu Secondary School, Mr. Ibrahim Hashim, expressed his profound gratitude to Konteh for coordinating the donation and to AGL for their generous support. “These materials are useful to us, and we appreciate them very much,” he stated, acknowledging the significant impact the donation would have on the students’ academic performance.
One of the students, speaking on behalf of her peers, extended her thanks to the donors. “We say plenty of thanks to you for supporting us with these materials,” she said, reflecting the excitement and appreciation of the student body.
The town chief of Senekedugu, Chief Alhaji Sorie Conteh, also commended the donors for their thoughtful contribution. “This support means a lot to us. We are grateful and will ensure that our children make proper use of these materials. In the end, this will help boost their education,” he remarked.
Other community members echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for more interventions like this to bridge the gap in educational resources in rural areas.
It wasn’t just Senekedugu Secondary School that benefited from this gesture. Other institutions, including Tongus Junior Secondary School and DEC Primary School in the community, also received donated materials. This ensured that a wider range of students across different educational levels could benefit from the support, amplifying the initiative’s impact.
By addressing the immediate needs of students, this donation alleviates some challenges faced by families in Senekedugu who often struggle to afford school supplies. It also highlights the importance of partnerships between local leaders, private companies, and communities in driving meaningful change.
The donation ceremony ended with the children singing songs of gratitude and thanking the donors for their generosity.