The Youth Action International, Sierra Leone (YAI) has awarded 16 scholarships to students at the Milton Margai School for the Blind at Wilkinson Road in Freetown.
YAI, an American-Based organization, provided full scholarships to cover the cost of full tuition and ensure that the students continue their regular junior and senior high school.
With the strong belief in education and allowing children to reach their full potential, YAI awarded these scholarships to children who lost their sight who would otherwise not have this kind of opportunity.
Country Representative of the organization, Ms. Yeanoh Conteh, said “it is an honour to team up with the Milton Margai School for the Blind to support and encourage people with disabilities to reach their full potential.”
So far, she said, blind students had benefited from this scholarship programme since its inception in 2005.
Making this disclosure, Ms. Yeanoh Conteh said, “this scholarship programme is an annual award from YAI, adding that “our organization decided to prioritize assistance for blind children because they are the most vulnerable in the society. We want to support them in becoming productive citizens despite their disability.”
YAI is also in the advanced stage of establishing an internationally recognized centre for women empowerment in Freetown. This programme, Yeanoh Conteh said would provide micro credit and more scholarships for the children and young women living in slums areas.
“The organization has earmarked close to 1 billion Leones to implement the project, which will provide specialized and high quality training opportunities for women”.
Her organization, she maintained, “is an American-based organ that was established to develop and implement programmes that help alleviate the suffering of children affected by war or living in difficult circumstances and to empower them to reach their full potential.