China Railway Seventh Group (SL) Co., Ltd. (CRSG) has reaffirmed its commitment to community development and educational advancement in Sierra Leone by supporting schools in the Mongegba community with essential teaching and learning materials.
The initiative was highlighted during a community event held on Monday, October 19, at the CRSG Mongegba Camp under the theme, “Care for Sierra Leone, Contributing to Society.” The event underscored the company’s commitment to strengthening relations with its host community while contributing to the educational development of children.
The support followed a request from the Mongegba community for assistance to education, reflecting the importance of collaboration between local communities and companies operating within their areas.
The items presented included 100 school bags, 240 books, four cartons of pens, 90 rulers, 220 erasers, five boxes of pencils, and two boxes of markers. The materials are expected to assist pupils in their daily schoolwork, improve access to basic learning resources and encourage a more supportive environment for teaching and learning.
The initiative reflects CRSG’s broader understanding that meaningful development must extend beyond physical infrastructure to include investment in people, particularly children and young people, whose education will shape the country’s future.
Chief Supervisor of CRSG, Feng Tao, said the company was honored to support neighboring schools with school bags, pens, exercise books and other educational materials.
In his address, Feng Tao stressed that responsible corporate citizenship requires companies to contribute not only to infrastructure development but also to the long-term welfare of the communities that host their operations.
“A responsible company does not only build infrastructure; it must also invest in the future of the community that hosts it. And that future is sitting right here, in this compound, in the eyes of these children,” he said.
Feng Tao explained that CRSG had worked in Sierra Leone for many years and remains proud of its contribution to national development through infrastructure, local employment and skills transfer.
He said the educational initiative was intended to demonstrate solidarity with the Mongegba community and reinforce the company’s belief that its success should be linked to the progress of the people living around its operations.
“These school supplies are our message of solidarity: we are your neighbour, we stand with you and your success is our success,” Feng Tao said.
He further described the community, school leaders, teachers and pupils as partners and friends, adding that CRSG values the trust placed in the company and remains committed to respecting local culture, supporting education and growing alongside the community.
Feng Tao also used the occasion to encourage school authorities and teachers to continue creating learning environments where children could develop their abilities, strengthen their knowledge and prepare for responsible roles in society.
Addressing the pupils directly, he reminded them that the materials were intended to support their studies but that their ultimate success would depend on personal commitment, discipline and determination.
Feng Tao urged the pupils to study hard and make their families, teachers and schools proud, emphasizing that educational progress requires both access to learning resources and a willingness to work diligently.
In reaffirming the company’s future priorities, he assured the gathering that CRSG would continue to prioritize local employment, skills training and community support.
He summed up the relationship between infrastructure and education with a message that captured the spirit of the event: “Education is the road that never washes away. Infrastructure moves people and goods. Education moves a nation.”
The statement reinforced the view that while infrastructure facilitates economic activity and connectivity, education equips citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain national development.
Addressing the gathering, Mongegba Village Headman, Abu Sesay, expressed appreciation to CRSG for its continued contributions to the community, describing the company as a valued partner that had demonstrated a positive working relationship with local residents.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Abu Sesay said he is proud of the company’s contributions and appealed to its Management to sustain the relationship and continue supporting community development initiatives.
He thanked CRSG for responding to the community’s request and encouraged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the school materials to improve their academic performance.
His remarks highlighted the importance of cooperation between businesses and the communities in which they operate, particularly in addressing educational needs and creating opportunities for children.
The school pupils expressed gratitude to CRSG for the educational materials, describing the initiative as valuable support for their studies, schools and families.
They appreciated the company and community leaders for responding to the needs of learners and said the materials would help improve their learning experiences.
Their appreciation also highlighted the importance of practical support for pupils, many of whom depend on access to basic school supplies to participate effectively in classroom activities.
By responding to the community’s request, CRSG demonstrated how cooperation between businesses and local residents can help address social needs while strengthening trust and mutual understanding.
The initiative also reinforced the message that education is a shared responsibility involving families, communities, schools, Government and the private sector.
As Sierra Leone continues to pursue development through infrastructure investment and human-capital advancement, partnerships that support children’s education remain important to building a skilled, productive and responsible future generation.
For CRSG, the Mongegba initiative represents a practical expression of its stated commitment to caring for Sierra Leone and contributing to society. For the community’s pupils, the school materials offer additional resources to support their studies and pursue their ambitions.
The message from the event was clear: lasting development is achieved when infrastructure investment goes hand in hand with investment in people, and when communities and companies work together to create opportunities for the next generation.
