Sierra Leone News: Future Focus Foundation boost Govokpahun and its surrounding communities

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A community based organization known as Future Focus Foundation (FFF) is partnering with Child Hope UK with funds from Jersey Overseas Aid Commission (JOAC) to implement a twelve months project titled Securing Education and Protection for the children and sustainability of their families in fifteen communities in Small Bo and Nongowa chiefdoms in Kenema district. The organization has constructed and handed over three classrooms and a toilet block and other materials to the Govokpahun community and its neibouring communities, that will benefit 360 children in Small Bo chiefdom. The contract was given to Upper Wanjei construction Company which has completed the construction and provided the necessary materials needed for the school, staff room, head teachers office and furniture provided and handed over since 13th April 2015. Formally handing over the school to the paramount chief of Small Bo chiefdom PC Mohamed Kokosoleh Dhafie Benya on behalf of the community and his subjects, and also giving brief background of the organization, the national team leader of Future Focus Foundation Sylvester Sedie Kallon thanked all and sundry who contributed in one way or the other in reaching the successful end of the project. He disclosed that the initial cost designed for the school was Le 109million Leones but they ended up using 130,000 ,000 to complete the school because of inflation and some other activities that was to be undertaken by the community, but clashed with their farming calendar that prevented them to fully participate by providing sand, stone and other items. He says when Future Focus Foundation received the initial budget for the work they showed it to the paramount chief and key stakeholders in the chiefdom for them to give their blessing for the work to commence. He appealed to the community people to take great care of the school as it will continue serving generations yet unborn. The team leader disclosed that this particular project is working in 15 communities in the two chiefdoms that is Govokpahun and Blama town in small Bo chiefdom, and in Nongowa where they are operating in Talia Makaya, Bambawo, Panderu, Gelehun, Baoma tiwa, Mano junction and Lowama and the four Burma communities in Kenema city. He further disclosed that the project has a lot of components, one is the school construction and also providing economic empowerment to 180 rural women through group saving and lending scheme, FFF has trained the women in business management skills. He revealed that in all of the six communities that FFF has savings and lending scheme they have done their share out and they are on their second phase. He says like for Talia Makaya community they have done their share out, and out of the initial capital of one million given to them they were able to make seven million one hundred and forty thousand Leones. They are now doing what he called the multiplier effect, by creating another group within the initial group. Future Focus Foundation is also doing Adult literacy that is benefiting one hundred rural women in Blama with the Be merciful women group, Burma communities, Bambawo and Baoma Tiwa respectively, adding 80% of women can now read and write their name and able to show time. FFF is also introducing a new Gender Empowerment tool called Gender Action Learning System (GALS). GALS is an empowerment tool that promote pro-poor wealth creation and gender equality. It helps people to vision their development journey even though they did not attend formal schooling, but it brings men and women together. FFF also trained 60 community agents that can replicate their various communities. Nine out of the 15 communities engage in corporative farming, by receiving 27.5 bushels of rice and the total yield derived was 129.1 bushels of rice after harvest. The group have gone ahead to replicate this tools to about 200 household since they started. FFF also provided three greater machines to three farming communities in Lowoma in the Nongowa chiefdom, Blama with the Be merciful women and in Govokpahun that will add value to their product. FFF boss further disclosed that women in Blama has started producing gari on their own and selling to the public. FFF also form Child Welfare Committee that respond to child abuses in their communities and they are doing very well. FFF also have component to assist children in schools by providing them with uniform and other learning materials. He says the project start February 2014 to be end in February 2015 but the Ebola scourge put hold to it. FFF also gave a lot of support to the Kenema District Ebola Task Force (KDETF) in the fight against Ebola, by presenting packages to the nurses, air time to the social mobilization pillar, provided 27 veronica buckets and hygiene material in our operational communities. Receiving the school on behalf of the community and chiefdom the paramount chief of Small Bo chiefdom PC Mohamed Kokosoleh Dhafie Benya thanked Future Focus Foundation (FFF) and its donor partners for providing Govokpahun community and its environs with a school structure that will ever continue benefiting the chiefdom. He describes the school as indelible ink that will ever remain in the minds of the chiefdom. The paramount chief urged all and sundry to maintain the culture of maintenance for the school, and call on them to have a mission that will be ready to move the school from its present position for the betterment of the children whom he described as future leaders. The PC promised his audience that he will be regularly visiting the school to ensure that it is properly handled and maintained for the community. He says the school belongs to the community people and therefore the security of the school and its property lies in the hand of everyone. He appealed to FFF and its donor partners to extend similar assistance to other communities within the chiefdom and the region as they are in dire need of assistance. He says FFF is one of the most transparent organization operating in his chiefdom saying he and his chiefdom authorities are well inform of their developmental activities going on in Small Bo chiefdom. Natasha Kwakwa programme and partnership manager Child Hope UK in her brief statement thanked FFF and the community saying she is impressed about everything saying her organization will continue supporting FFF and the community. She called on all to work together and remain united at all times. Other meaningful contributions came from the social welfare Gender and Children Affairs MSWGCA representative Brima S. Koroma, MEST representatives Grace Lamin and J.M.B.Sumaila Inspector of schools among others. By Saffa B. Moriba Tuesday April 28, 2015

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