The Programme Coordinator Vocational Training Centre for the Blind (VTCB) known as School for the Blind, Hanafie Sowa has disclosed that the school for the blind located at Rural Training Institute (RTI) has now benefited from solar electrification system with support from Energy Assistance in Belgium through Eye for Salone.
He said it is very important for them to have electricity in their compound even though they are blind. He said they have dependants who move with them around at night.
He thanked the donor for the gesture and called on them to do more to alleviate their suffering.
Mr. Hanafe Sowa cited the approval of the school and the teachers, pure drinking water among others as major challenges the institution is faced with and therefore used the opportunity to call on government and other partners to come to their aid.
In his statement, the Country Director EYE FOR SALONE, Mohamed Sankoh appealed to the community people to monitor the facility as plans are underway to bring more support to the blind school in Kenema.
He said for the past five years they have been in partnership with EYE FOR SALONE to address the problem of electricity in the school compound and that of Kono and Freetown, adding that two engineers from Belgium and one from South Africa were brought in by EYE FOR SALON for the installation of the solar panels in the country and that four people were also trained by the organization for the maintenance of the equipment.
The team leader from Belgium, Jam Tan Tierens disclosed that the project costs about 30,000 Euro with 15 solar panels and accessories for Kenema and 12 solar panels and accessories for Kono. The project was brought in by EYE FOR SALONE under the Energy Assistance in Belgium.
The school’s Board Chairman who chaired the programme, Emmanuel Sandi, commended EYE FOR SALONE for the gesture and assured that the facilities would be thoroughly monitored. He called on other organizations to copy the good example of EYE FOR SALONE.
By: Saffa Moriba
Monday January 23, 2017