By Foday Moriba Conteh
Authorities of the National School for the Deaf on Wilkinson Road in Freetown are currently appealing to relevant stakeholders to come to their aid with regards assistance of food items especially during this period when we are contending with COVID-19.
The school authorities are calling for help from relevant stakeholders, past students and philanthropists to assist the school with food to feed the children while in school.
“It’s trying times in Sierra Leone as we go through the corona virus,” said Head Teacher, Winifred Kamara-Cole.
Some of the children usually go to bed on an empty stomach while others roam around begging for food.
The school needs learning materials and repair of the school building, she said.
Alhaji Rahman while handing over a donation from diaspora said two past pupils of the school Jonathan Marsh and Sylvester Kay mobilized some resources from America and England to assist the school highlighting with some food items as some of the children are from poor homes in Freetown.
Rahman disclosed how they donated 15 bags of rice, 2 bags of onions, 5 cartoons tin tomatoes and 15 gallons of vegetable oil to help prepare food for the children.
Receiving the items, Head Teacher of the school, Winifred Kamara-Cole, thanked Jonathan Marsh, Mr Sylvester Kay and others in the diaspora for their contributions to improve the welfare of deaf children in the country.
She prayed that God will bless them and protect them for their generosity and assured that the items will be used to cook for the children in order to enhance healthy living in the school.
Head girl of the school, Michaela Conteh, expressed gratitude to the donors for their support towards the wellbeing of the deaf children in the school.
Director of the Sierra Leone National association for the Deaf, Ramatu Sesay applauded Jonathan, Slyvester and others for their financial and moral supports to the deaf people in Sierra Leone.
The deaf community in the diaspora sometime last year also donated food items to the St. Joseph Secondary School and it was learnt that plans are underway through a task force to send food items and school supplies to the Ebert Kakua School for the Blind.