The Ambassador of the United States of America (USA) June Carter Perry has concluded a visit to various schools in Port Loko and Bombali District which are supported by the USAID in the Ambassador’s Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP),
The visit of the Ambassador last Thursday 29th May to these two districts gave her the opportunity to meet with two schools who are beneficiaries of the AGSP, a program funded and managed by USAID.
She also met with officials of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) and key political leaders in the Northern Province.
Ambassador Perry visited the Church of God of Prophecy Primary School and was able to meet with teachers and students benefiting from the AGSP in Magbontoso, Port Loko District where the AGSP supports 42 students in Magbontoso by providing tuition, uniforms, books and other school supplies.
In Pate Bana Masimbo, Ambassador Perry visited the Bombali District Education Committee School, also where 40 students are sponsored by the Ambassador’s Girls Scholarship Program.
Through the US Embassy in Freetown the programme was increased from 3,000 in 2004/2005 to 4,000 in 2007/2008 the number of beneficiaries throughout Sierra Leone this academic year,
At both schools, boxes of assorted books and clothes were donated, and also the presentation of copies of the “Autobiography of Frederick Douglass” and “Little Women” were given to the pupils were given to them to impress on the students the importance and benefit of obtaining a good education.
While in Makeni, Ambassador June Carter Perry was also able to visit the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) Regional Office where s he met with the District Political Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee and several female candidates for the forthcoming Local Government elections slated for 5 July. She heard the testimony of a female candidate from Koinadugu District, the only district in Sierra Leone without a female local government representative for the past four years.
She encouraged the PPRC to maintain their fairness and effectiveness during the upcoming Local Government Elections. She also stressed the importance of including women in the electoral process through outreach and education.
The tour of the Ambassador emphasized her strong commitment to promoting gender equity in Sierra Leone. In Makeni also the Ambassador met with the Resident Minister of the Northern Region, Honorable Alie D. Kamara, cited the need for further development and support in the North after which the Ambassador presented the Resident Minister an American photo journal book, “America 24/7” and expressed how it pictorially reflects America’s great diversity.