As part of its objective to help children from disadvantaged homes realize their academic potentials and dreams of having access to quality education, the Academic Award Foundation has organized its first scholarship presentation ceremony for Primary school pupils in the Western Area.
This is an effort to boost the education sector by providing support in the form of fees and other learning materials to pupils and students in tertiary institutions to enable them pursue their educational adventure.
Presentation of financial and material support to five school pupils from disadvantaged homes and communities within the Western Area took place this week at The Ark community centre, Robert Street in Freetown.
The first five beneficiaries of the AAF scholarship programme are: Hawa Kamara of United Methodist Church Primary school, Bright Street, Freetown, Kandeh Musa Jr. of Regent Community Primary school, Adama Koroma of Wesleyan Primary school, Ginger Hall, Evelyn Edna Kamara of Tower Hill Municipal Primary school and Ishmael Fofanah of St Augustine’s Primary school,Dworzak.
One hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le150,000) was given to each pupil as financial support and was accompanied by school package which includes 2 school bags, 1 dozen pen and pencils,1 dozen exercise books, 2 sets of school uniforms, 2 pairs of school shoes and text books in all subjects offered by the pupils in school.
Addressing the awardees and family members present at the presentation ceremony the Country Coordinator of the Foundation, Patrick Kobba said the pupils are the very first set of children to benefit from the scholarship programme of the foundation. He considered the children lucky to have benefited from the 2009/2010 scholarship for primary schools amidst thousands of disadvantaged children out there who are in desperate need of such support. The Coordinator encouraged the pupils to be serious with their academic work. He went further to advice parents and guardians to pay more attention to the education of their children adding that the only way we can change our future is to empower the children with quality education by giving them the necessary support.
Patrick Kobba disclosed that the foundation is planning to increase the number of scholarship award to 50 by next academic year.
Giving a brief background of the foundation the Country Coordinator said the foundation was formed in England in 2008 by two Sierra Leoneans, Halima Kamara and Abubakarr Kamara .The main objective of the foundation is to provide academic support for disadvantaged Sierra Leoneans.This support cuts across primary to university level.
Representatives from the Academic Award UK branch, Kadie Turay encouraged parents to take good care of their children as they are the most precious possession of the nation which should not be allowed to go astray.
The President of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students (NUSS) Felix Koroma, representative from the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs and the President of Children’s Forum Net work Sulaiman Musa all made statements on behalf of their organizations.
By William Freeman
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