The Kanu Branch Foundation Limited (KBFL) Sierra Leone, with the motto, ‘Helping Underprivileged Kids in Sierra Leone’ on Wednesday 3rd January 2024 donated school materials like bags, exercise books, pens, pencils and shovels estimated at $15,000 to over 300 pupils of the Assabikoun Primary, Advance Orphanage Primary and Evangelical Model Primary Schools in Makeni, Bombali District.
The well attended ceremony took place at the Bombali District Council Hall in Makeni City.
In his statement, the Chairman of the Bombali District Council (BDC), Dr. Mohamed Sesay underscored that education is the key to development, that the children are the future of the country, commended KBFL for the invaluable gesture and support to the free quality education in the country.
He also assured that the children would use the school materials for their intended purpose.
Paramount Chief Bai Makarie N’Kolo II of Makarie Chiefdom, Bombali District acclaimed KBFL for the valuable donation, observed that he is delighted that all the three beneficiary schools are under-privileged schools, that the name Kanu means good in the Temne Language and appealed to the children to be studious and parents to monitor them.
He offered prayers for the KBFL members in the diaspora who are making a lot of sacrifices to support needy children in the country with their personal contributions as they are not getting any donor support and urged the children to be studious to become successful citizens in society.
Paramount Chief Bai Makarie N’Kolo II also admonished parents to keep their girl children in school as well as discipline them and assured that KFBL would continue to support the poor and needy in spite of the global economic challenges stressing that if the pupils make good use of the opportunity the sky would be their limit.
According to the Paramount Chief, since 2015, KBFL has been donating school materials to various schools nationwide revealing that the organization has supplied chairs, constructed two classroom block buildings with an office space, supported over 600 children in Zimmi in the Pujehun District and Kono District, Walai near Tombo along the Freetown Peninsula respectively with school materials adding that the organization is putting smiles on the faces of the under-privileged in the country and admonished parents to take good care of their children to put premium on their education that is the key to development and success.
Mrs. Ashley Bangura and Mrs. Ekundayo Williams-Bangura, KBFL diaspora members, made similar statements.
The representative of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education reiterated that KBFL is complementing the efforts of government to implement the free quality education as government cannot do everything and reminded the pupils that some of their colleagues do not have the opportunity.
The representative of school proprietors, Mr. Al-Hassan Sesay disclosed that KBFL is one of the best charitable organizations in the country that is supporting the physically-challenged, poor and vulnerable especially in education and appealed to other Sierra Leoneans to emulate the sterling example of KBFL whose vision is aligned with that of proprietors of schools.
He continued that KBFL is helping to reduce poverty and illiteracy in the country as well as promoting gender balance by supporting girls’ education.
The Bombali District Education Committee representative revealed that most times people do not value free gifts but noted that the donated school materials would address a lot of challenges in homes and appealed for more support to other deprived schools outside Makeni City.
The representatives of KBFL Freetown Branch, the Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Suliaman Kanu and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abu Bakarr Kamara all made similar statements while Idrissa Marah of KBFL revealed that the donation ceremony is to support less-privileged pupils, that KBFL has made similar donations to other schools in different parts of the country and appealed to the pupils and parents to make good use of the items.
Highlights of the event were the distribution of the school materials, introduction of KBFL members nationwide and in the diaspora, testimonies of KBFL donations countrywide and drama performances while the vote of thanks was rendered by a pupil of the Assabikoun Primary School.