By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of the implementation of its Corporate Social Responsibility and support to the Government’s Free Quality Education initiative , the Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company has on Friday 12th February 2021, donated school materials, comprising Books, Pens, Pencils, Bags etc. worth millions of Leones to over 1,350 pupils who are residents of both the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities. The donation ceremony took place at the Moa Wharf Community and Sea Side Community respectively.
Presenting the items, the General Manager of Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company, Bertrand Kerghelen noted that they are very pleased to donate the various school materials to the less privileged as part of the company’s social responsibility which is geared towards complementing the Government Free Quality Education Initiative in the country.
He added that the donation of the school items to these 1,350 pupils within the two communities is a fulfilment of the vision of the organization to support education even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The General Manager admonished them to make good use of the donated items and also went further to inspire them to take their studies serious underscoring that education is the key to success.
He assured them of the company’s continuous support towards the development of children.
Community Chairman of Moa Wharf community, Abu-Bakarr Barrie, showered praises on Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company for the gesture which he described as a move in the right direction towards the development of children in their community.
He revealed that this is not the first time they have received such a gesture from Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company saying they have been rendering various assistances including this latest one every year in order to support these children in their academic pursuits.
He also admonished beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity saying many other children want such an opportunity. He assured all that they will ensure that they monitor the use of these items as they have already set up a Committee that will be monitoring these children in order to use these items for the intended purpose.
Head of Communications/Public Relations at Bollore Transport and Logistics, Gassimu S. Fofana, also disclosed that as a company they are very committed to rendering support towards educational advancement in the country stating that the donation of the items to the beneficiaries is a clear manifestation of that commitment.
He further revealed that prior to this latest donation the company on Wednesday 13th January 2021, dished out scholarships worth Le79, 023,000 to twenty-seven (27) University students who are residents of both the Moa Wharf and Sea Side communities and that the 27 beneficiaries were selected from different Universities across the country namely Fourah Bay College (FBC), College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Makeni (UNIMAK), Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), UNITECH etc.
Isatu Kanu, a beneficiary thanked Bolloré Transport & Logistics Company for the kind gesture which she graciously said is not only important but very timely in the midst of COVID-19 in the country, adding that the gesture will ease the burden on parents to purchase school materials.
She called on other humanitarian organizations to come on board to support less privileged children living in slum communities.
Yusuf Koroma, a parent of one of the beneficiaries, expressed his deepest appreciation to the organization for the gesture, adding that with the organization’s support it will lessen the financial burden on them as parents to purchase school materials for their children.
