German Kooperation- Sierra Leone (GEKO-SL) over the weekend restored hope of a bright future for 155 orphans and underprivileged children in Sanda Taindaren and Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdoms in the northern part of Sierra Leone by awarding them scholarships that will see them through primary, secondary, and even tertiary education .
The organization donated scholarship packages comprising uniforms, shoes, school bags, school charges, lunch money and assorted learning materials to the beneficiaries in the two chiefdoms as part of their Education Project.
Giving an overview of the education project at the distribution ceremony held in Gbendembu and Rogbin in Gbendembu-Ngowahun and Sanda Taindaren chiefdoms respectively, the Associate Director, Mr. Isheka Turay, (representing the executive director, Mrs. Isatu Konteh) said that GEKO-SL has been working with the communities for over ten years in various sectors of development.
He added that the education project focuses on ensuring that educational opportunities are provided to school drop-outs, orphans and underprivileged children who would otherwise not be able to attend school.
Turay said this was part of the organization’s contribution to the achievement of Goal 2 of the Millennium Development Goals.
The Associate Director stated that GEKO-SL is working very hard to reduce poverty in rural communities, focusing on child education, youth and women’s development.
He disclosed that since the inception of the education project a year ago, they have supported 155 under-privileged children from various communities in the Gbendembu Ngowahun and Sanda Taindaren chiefdoms.
He further revealed that the education project last year supported 50 pupils with funds raised through Global giving.
This year, he said, 105 awardees have been exclusively funded by various sponsors in Canada through the passionate drive and effort of Liz Peloso, whom he described as the patron of GEKO Sierra Leone.
He called on the parents, guardians and awardees to join him in thanking the Peloso family in Canada for this show of love and goodwill.
Turay called on the children to value their education and admonished parents and guardians to monitor the performances of their children both in and out of the school.
Mr. Turay advised the beneficiaries to be steadfast in their educational pursuit referring to them as the future leaders and warned them strongly not to sell the materials provided but to use them for the purpose they were meant, as they will not be replenished once they are misused or lost.
The Councilor of Constituency 32 Ward 100, Mr. Alusine Kargbo, thanked GEKO-SL for the scholarships and learning materials and encouraged the lucky beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity provided for them.
Speaking on behalf of the parents and guardians, Marie Fornah, stated that the choice of recipients was a good one since they were amongst some of the neediest in the community.
She said that the opportunity provided by GEKO-SL is very much timely and assured all present that as parents they would do everything to ensure the good use of the opportunity by the beneficiaries.
Representing the Head Teachers, Mr. T. A. Kamara, thanked GEKO-SL for the donations. He said that the scholarship package was comprehensive and that it addressed the difficulty faced by most parents and guardians in their struggle to educate their children and wards.
Distributing the assorted materials, the GEKO-SL Program Manager, Mr. John Tholley, urged beneficiaries to be studious in school and encouraged them to work hard and behave well.
One of the awardees, Emmanuel Sesay, thanked GEKO-SL for giving them the scholarships and Liz Peloso and their sponsors in Canada for making it possible.
He assured that they will put on the coat of seriousness in school and they will use the assorted school items judiciously.