Philanthropist Mustapha Swaray Jnr. whose philanthropy is firmly rooted in the saying “an empty bag cannot stand” on Monday 15th February 2021 embarked on a school feeding programme at the Ogoo Farm community in Freetown.
The feeding targeted two schools of over 200 children, including Divine Academy Primary and Preparatory School and Islamic Community Primary School.
Each pupil of both schools received a package of rice and chicken, soft drink, and water.
Philanthropist Swaray stressed the need to give back to one’s community, noting that some of the school pupils in his community hardly eat well.
Swaray spoke highly of sustainability, noting that he intends on sustaining the feeding for the pupils he said are future leaders, and disclosed plans to extend the school feeding to other Ogoo Farm schools.
He said he got the millions of Leones he spent on the feeding from his businesses, adding he didn’t receive sponsorship from anyone, and has no political ambition whatsoever.
Swaray urged the pupils to treat their academic work with utmost seriousness, as “education is the key to success.”
Mohamed Kamara, a pupil of the Divine Academy Primary and Preparatory School, said he wants to become a banker after school, but disclosed that his family struggles to provide him three square meals a day which in turn affects his output at school. “I easily fall asleep when I’m hungry,” he added.
Adein Bangura, a pupil of the same school, desires to become a nurse after college. She commended philanthropist Swaray for what she described as kindness. Bangura said she eats twice a day at home, but said she hardly lays hands on the kind of food that was served.
Head Teacher, Divine Academy Primary and Preparatory School, Isaac Sesay noted that it was not the first time that his school had received such gesture, adding that he and his colleagues really appreciate the gesture.
He urged community members having the means to work with Swaray to sustain the feeding programme.
Head Teacher, Islamic Community Primary School, Alpha Umaru Jalloh expressed surprise over the gesture, noting that it was their first time receiving such a gesture.
“Food is what we need to sustain our lives,” he added.
By sulaiman.sesay@awokonewspaper.sl