By Abdul Malik Bangura
Recently, the Milton Margai School for the Blind was on fire that ravaged the female dormitory of the school with four kids wounded leaving others with psychosocial distress. One of the first persons to visit the scene was the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary School, Dr. Monina Sengbe who called for the support of “the wider community to step in and help them get back to normalcy.”
Against that backdrop, Leone Rock Metal Group stepped in to support the Milton Margai School for the Blind to ameliorate the plight of the visually impaired kids.
The mining company donated to the School 20 mattresses, 20 bed sheets, 10 cartons of Braille papers, 10 cartons of toilet soaps, 3 bales of used cloths, 90 school bags and sachets of water which all meant to support the kids in order to live in a very conducive environment.
Meanwhile, during the donation held at the school compound on Wilkinson Road in Freetown, the company’s Public Relations Director, Michael He said Leone Rock takes its corporate social responsibility (CSR) as one of its top priorities and has always been active in implementing CSR projects. He told the kids that nothing can stop them to have clear goals in their lives and should not let current conditions make them feel frustrated in achieving those goals.
The Director of Community Affairs of Leone Rock Metal Group, Judith Kosseh, said the company is sympathizing with the kids at a very unfortunate moment in their lives. She thanked the teachers and caregivers of the school for the good work they have been doing all this while and in caring for the visually impaired kids.
Presenting the donated items on behalf of the company, Salim Sillah, Director in the CEO’s Office dilated on the company’s CSR projects and said he feels delighted that senior staff of the company decided to come and share with the visually impaired kids during such a time like. He spoke about the activities of the company in the iron ore industry of Sierra Leone, and assured that in the coming days, the children will be visited individual members of staff who will be around to do personal donations.
Responding to the donation, the Principal of the Milton Margai School for the Blind, Salieu Turay, expressed gratitude to the company for remembering the disable kids at this moment of their need. He gave a breakdown of events of the fire incident and expressed the view that the donation made by the company is indeed timely and will address the welfare challenges of the pupils.
A female pupil of the school gave the vote of thanks, during which she expressed delight for the donation and prayed for the success of the company in the pursuance of its aims and objectives.
Note:
Leone Rock Metal Group is the parent body of Kingho Mining Company Limited and Kingho Railway and Port Company Limited. Kingho Mining Company Limited operates the Tonkolili Iron Ore Mines, whilst Kingho Railway and Port Company operates the 192 Kilometer railway as well as the Pepel Shipping Port.
