DIP Boosts Over 100 Ebola, Mudslide Pupils With Learning Materials

By Mariama B. Bah
As a way of supporting government’s free and quality education initiative in the country, the Development Initiative Programme with support from Terra Tech Germany has donated learning materials to ebola/ mudslide pupils and also supported thirty vulnerable women groups in the western urban and rural respectively.

The donation ceremony attracted hundreds of ebola/ mudslide beneficiaries, councilors, chiefs, important dignitaries and media practitioners.
The Program Manager Flex Kpange noted that they donated the learning materials to the ebola/mudslide victims as a way of supporting the New Direction government to achieve its goal of the free quality education to all Sierra Leonean in line with the Sustainable Development Goal.
He explained that each ebola/mudslide beneficiary would receive a package comprising two dozen exercise books, bags, pens, uniforms, shoes among others.
He noted that the items would serve as a relief for caregivers who were making lots of sacrifices to educate those children. He said that education is the fundamental right of every citizen and can bring about the desire change and development in both human mind and the nation.
Adding that they have supported thirty vulnerable women groups and each group will receive the sum of five million Leones as a startup kits.
The C.E.O Development Initiative Programme Madam Hawa Saffia said that the pupils should take their education very seriously so that they could be regarded important people in the society. Monies were also donated to vulnerable women groups as a way of promoting them. She advised that they should utilize the money for the intended purpose that could be of greater use.
She added that the entire projects which covers western urban/ rural, Port Loko District is over five hundred million Leone.
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Lusine Kallon thanked DIP and their partner Terra Tech Germany for the good job that they have been doing over the years.

The minister called on other local and international nongovernmental organizations to emulate same because the government cannot do it alone.
Madam Fatmata E.R Ansumana from the Ministry of Social Welfare said that social welfare always seek the welfare of everyone be it young or old. Noting that since the ebola/ mudslide period to date DIP has played a great role in improving the lives of people in Sierra Leone.
She advised that the parent, guardians and care givers should monitor their children books instead of given them goods to sell especially the girl child which can lead to teenage pregnacy.
She advised the parent and care givers that the items that DIP has donated to the children were not for sale but for the children’s use.

Abdul Sesay from the Ministry of Education thanked DIP and Terra Tech for their good initiative in transforming the lives of people in the country. He continued saying, the government established the free quality education because is the key stone towards development.
The Chief of Pentagon community kamayama Mohamed Sesay thanked DIP for such a laudable venture and also for their effort in promoting education and other important sector in the country. He said that it is not the first time that DIP is helping them and that the gesture has now been a continuous process.
He advised those vulnerable groups that the money that DIP has donated to them should be used for the intended purpose.
Chief Pa Almamy Bubu Conteh from Regent, Motehmeh expressed thanks and appreciation to DIP for such a big donation and prayed that only God will richly bless them.
The headman of Mabella, Hagan Street and Dove Cot Ibrahim Bangura thanked DIP for their loveand support that they have rendered to his community. He advised the children that education is paramount to every human being and the children should put their education first.
Other important representative from MSWGCA Gender Directorate Hannah Lahai, Paul K. Gbetu from the City Council, community heads from Allen town, Calaba town, Rokopurr, Regents, Hastings, Waterloo among other also made a meaningful statement.