By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Sep. 1 (232News) – Support For the Less Privileged (SFLP), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has donated another set of school materials to 220 pupils attending different primary schools from classes 3 to 6 across Tengbeh Town, Wilberforce, Hill Cut and Hill Stations communities.
The donated school materials which ware presented to the pupils over the weekend at the Whosoever Will Church, Wilberforce Barracks is for the 2021-2022 academic year.
SFLP Country Director, Amadu Yapo Kamara recalled that in the 2020-2021 academic year they targeted 154 pupils but due to the economic crisis in the country they have increased the number to 220 this year.
He went on to say the vision came through the founder and Executive Director, Paul Lahai Koroma who based in the United Kingdom. Other partners include Amadu Mboley Thoranka UK, Musa Kalili Marah USA, Abdul Akim Koroma UK, Alusine Janneh USA and Koya Mansaray USA.
The donated school materials include bags, books, pens and pencils. He cautioned the pupils that they were giving such help to motivate them and for them to know that education pays. He therefore called on them to focus and make use of the opportunity through that their parents will be proud of them at the end.
He also told the parents to allow the children to do their homework and reduce the work load on them. He advised them to pay proper attention to their studies while encouraging the parents to continue the good work for their children.
He described Paul as a person that have a heart of giving out of the little he has since the time he was in Sierra Leone; they are now giving out to community and hope to expand it nationwide.
Kamara continued that they started giving back to their community in 2019 when the Corona Virus was at its peak in the country, noting that through suggestion from other members, they were then giving out to ease the burden on parents by providing school materials.
“Whatever support we are giving is an addition to the one government is giving.”
He emphasised that what they were doing had no political backing nether had and form of political undertone but were only giving back to the community they were born.
Mrs. Sarah Musu Koroma-Turay Group Coordinator said they want to see that the children come out good at the end of the day as it was not easy for them to raise such fund but because of the love they have for their people that is why they are doing such.
She emphasised that the next distribution they will start looking at school performance, if a child doesn’t perform well he/she will not be part of the 2022-2023 academic year package.
One of the community representatives and a parent Suzan Koroma representing Waterside Road, Tengbeh Town thanked the founder and CEO for the initiative, their partners and the coordinators for reaching out to needy people in the community.
She promised on behalf of her community to make SFLP proud through the outstanding performance of the kids which she said will prompt them to do more.
Suzan also spoke about the high cost of learning materials these days more so as a single parent.
She called on the government to look into the cost of school materials more especially for those that can’t afford or fortunate to get such support from SFLP.
“SFLP learning materials is a big help for us as a single parent considering the hardship of the country.”
Other parents mostly single parents expressed joy for the donation. They described it as a burden lifter. They pray for more provision and protection of SFLP partners.
Statements were also made by Upper Tengbeh Town representative Pa U.B. Koroma, Hill Cut and Hill Station representative Ibrahim H. Konteh and Wilberforce Barracks representative Felix Marah.
The kids displayed thank you cards to the founder and partners of SFLP as a way of expressing their gratitude to them for reaching out at these trying times.
