Mountain Rural Junior Secondary School Regent yesterday became the first school in the second quarter to receive the Celtel Build our Nation Le10million worth of books & learning materials.
Presenting the books at a colourful ceremony at the school’s premises, the Finance Director Chris Krupski who represented the Managing Director, Ted Sauti-Phiri said that he was happy to be in Regent as they were Celtel’s neighbours. He noted that with about 160 pupils, it was challenging to run the school especially these days when resources are very scarce.
The Financial Director explained that Celtel believes in putting back into the community some of what they get. “We believe that the best way to do this is to invest in the future.
So as you the children are the future, we expect that these books will help you become great men in the society,” he added, as he presented the books to the Principal of the school, Mr. Bernard S. Kamara.
Managing Director of Premier Media, Dr. Julius Spencer chaired the occasion. The chairman explained that the Build Our Nation (BON) scheme is run in every one of the 15 countries were it operates in Africa. He explained that the scheme gives Le10m worth of books to disadvantaged schools nationwide every 3 months and that it had distributed books to the first four schools in each region after the first draw in February. The Mountain Rural Junior Secondary School Principal, Bernard Kamara in receiving the books said that the school was struggling with problems. He expressed thanks to the MD and Celtel for the gesture.
He explained that he was invited to the launching of the BON scheme at Miatta conference Centre in February but his school lost that time. The principal stated that now he was in a position to advice other schools who have not won the raffle to keep hoping that one day their turn will come.
He described the presentation as a great day for the school and said that he was receiving the items with 100 per cent pleasure while promising that they will be put to good use for the pupils. Earlier, the Chairperson of the Parent Teacher Association Mrs.Corran Mansaray welcomed Celtel to Regent and praised the leading mobile phone company for assisting both the parents and pupils.
The Chairman recalled that during one of such presentations, he was shocked when the pupils explained that they had never used a dictionary. ‘These now are brand new textbooks of all the core subjects you are doing”, while stressing on them to be hard working so that they will become great men and women.
A pupil Miranda Johnson gave the vote of thanks expressing admiration for Celtel’s efforts. The pupils had earlier welcomed the guests with traditional dancing and songs in their school compound.
ADVERTISEMENT