Irish Delegation Visits Sierra Leone

Five students from Scoil Mhuire Cork - Heather McNamara, Lily O’Reilly, Lucy O’Brien, Cara Cronin, Zara Quigley visited SHF projects in Sierra Leone along with their teacher Bernice O’Brien, CEO John Mitchell and Noel O’Keeffe an architectural technologist from the large Cork-based company, PM.

They received the usual warm African welcome in the villages. They met the scholarship holders and attended the matriculation of the 14 trainee teachers who are sponsored.

School attendance continues to grow and extensions are required in a number of schools.

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Electricity Reaches Robombeh

“Solar set for Robombeh has been installed. Community people are so happy to see the first
light in their community. Lots of jubilation and during the meeting for the installation of the
Solar, Security was guaranteed and Parents promised to send and monitor their children for
studies. The Headmaster was extra happy. After the Installation was completed. The
Technicians trained them on the use and maintenance of the system.”

Report from Alimamy Samura, Project Supervisor

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SHF Provides 91 Scholarships in its Schools in Sierra Leone

Here is the report of Alimamy our representative in Sierra Leone

SCHOLARSHIPS:

This has recently been carried out. The exercise took place on Sunday the 11th September 2019 at the Mabesseneh Parish Hall in Lunsar. It was very successful. 86 of the 91 beneficiaries came with their parents. 4 of the 5 absentees had their parents representing them. In total, 90 out of the 91 received their scholarship packages.  The package comprises of a school bag, 4 text books (Core Subjects), 6 ledger books, mathematical set and an envelope containing one hundred and fifty thousand Leones (€15). The two Schools Supervisors were among those present. All Head Teachers from the various schools were in attendance. Statements were made by Alimamy Samura, Mr. Augustine Sesay secondary school principal and the Schools Supervisors all centered in the importance of education and asking the students to make good use of this golden opportunity given to them by Schools and Health Foundation. The Schools Supervisor thanked Schools and Health Foundation on behalf of the Ministry for this loudable venture in considering these pupils for such a wonderful assistance. They further emphasized the need for all beneficiaries to handle well more especially the text books as they are not only meant for Junior Secondary 1 but Junior Secondary 1 – 3.  Mr. Augustine Sesay announced to them that, the one hundred and fifty thousand Leones sum in the envelope was for the purchase of the school uniform and shoes since the pupils are in different secondary schools , wear different shoe sizes and considering the fact that, some parents had already gone ahead to buy the uniform and shoes.  At the end of the distribution exercise, the Head Teacher for Katick Mr. Bangura gave the vote of thanks and beneficiaries together with their parents and head teachers departed  with joy. They were very much happy and appreciative receiving the scholarship packages.

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SHF has a new sister organisation in Malawi

Thomas Malopa our representative in Malawi along with some colleagues has set up a Schools and Health Foundation organisation in Malawi.

We will now be able to build schools more cheaply as material for local organisations who build schools is free of VAT which will reduce construction cost by around 20%.

Our sister organisation will also help with identification of projects and we can apply to international funders from Malawi.

Uniforms for Geisha Orphans

We were happy and proud to fund a new school block in Geisha community, Mzuzu, Malawi.

Our joy was tempered by hearing that there were 48 orphans in the school who could not afford uniforms. Happily we had the funds to solve this.

Another problem in that school and others in Malawi is the absence of desks. It is difficult to learn sitting on a concrete floor. Any help would be appreciated.