The Gilo Educational Economic and Development (GEED) Foundation, in partnership with Excel Daycare, donated 150 sets of school desks and chairs to YMCA Preschool and REC Primary School in Gloucester on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
The donation was accompanied by a school feeding exercise for pupils of the two beneficiary institutions.
The event attracted community stakeholders, including the Gloucester headman and representatives from various ministries, who expressed gratitude to Dr. Ekundayo Walton Gilpin and the GEED Foundation for supporting education and complementing government initiatives. Community members described the donation as historic, noting it was the first time an organization had extended such direct support to schools in the area.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Gilpin, Founder of the GEED Foundation, emphasized that the gesture, worth millions of Leones, is aimed at complementing the Government’s Free Quality Education program by providing a more conducive learning environment for pupils.
He noted that investment in children is an investment in the nation’s future, adding that “among these children lies a future leader who will one day transform Sierra Leone.”
Dr. Gilpin also reminded the community that education is not just about infrastructure, but also about nurturing values, discipline, and creativity in children. He encouraged teachers to remain steadfast in their service and urged parents to support their children’s education, stressing that collaboration between all stakeholders is essential for sustainable development.
The Founder of Excel Daycare, Mrs. Onikeh King, thanked teachers for their dedication and commended the GEED Foundation for partnering in the initiative. Speaking during the event, she noted that holding the ceremony in a church due to the rain was a reminder of God’s blessings upon the program.
Representing the Government, Sheka Osman Sesay, Director of NGO Affairs at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, underscored the importance of collaboration between the state and non-governmental organizations. He said the initiative aligns with the national development agenda, particularly in expanding access to quality education and school feeding.
This latest intervention follows the GEED Foundation’s seventh anniversary celebrations earlier this year, which began on April 11, 2025, on Bonthe Island, the birthplace of Dr. Gilpin. That event featured a march-past, melodrama performances, and community feeding, further demonstrating the Foundation’s commitment to human capital development.