Three hundred schoolchildren from different wharf and coastal communities across Freetown have received educational materials from the GEED Foundation as part of the organization’s continuing efforts to support vulnerable families and promote access to education.
The school supplies were distributed during a ceremony held at the Government Municipal Secondary School in Kissy Dockyard, bringing together beneficiaries, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders from nearly ten coastal communities in the capital.
The initiative forms part of the GEED Foundation’s educational and humanitarian interventions and is intended to complement the Government’s Free Quality School Education programme by helping parents meet some of the basic learning needs of their children.
Speaking during the presentation, Councillor Tutu of Freetown’s Central Ward commended the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GEED Foundation, Ambassador Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, for his contribution to the welfare of vulnerable people.
Councillor Tutu described Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin as an exceptional Sierra Leonean who has distinguished himself in the banking sector while maintaining a strong commitment to supporting disadvantaged communities.
Councillor Zakaria Kanneh of Gloucester Village similarly praised the Foundation for what he described as its longstanding commitment to education and community development.
He recalled that GEED Foundation previously collaborated with Excel Daycare, Nursery, Primary and Secondary School to provide school furniture worth thousands of Leones to schools within the Gloucester community.
The ceremony also attracted Harbour Masters from coastal communities whose children were among the beneficiaries. Their relationship with the Foundation has strengthened following their participation in Sierra Leone’s first Coastal Unity Boat Race, which was sponsored by GEED Foundation last year.
Addressing parents and children at the event, Ambassador Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin encouraged families to place education at the centre of their children’s development, describing learning as one of the most effective pathways for breaking the cycle of poverty.
He stressed that parents have an important responsibility to ensure their children remain in school and receive the necessary encouragement to pursue their academic ambitions.
Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin reaffirmed GEED Foundation’s commitment to supporting education and vulnerable communities across Sierra Leone, noting that investment in children’s education could have a lasting impact on families, communities and the country’s development.
He further underscored the importance of collective action among parents, communities, institutions and development-oriented organisations in creating opportunities for children, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The distribution of the school materials was welcomed by parents and community representatives, who said the intervention would help ease some of the financial burden associated with preparing children for school.
Representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and Rokel Commercial Bank were also among the stakeholders who attended and made statements during the ceremony.
The latest intervention adds to GEED Foundation’s growing portfolio of educational and community-based initiatives, reinforcing its stated commitment to improving opportunities for children and supporting vulnerable communities across Sierra Leone.
