By Amin Kef Sesay
Choithram International Foundation has on Tuesday 10th December, 2019 donated one hundred million Leones to the Choithram Scholarship Fund in order to award 139 scholarships to school going pupils across the country. The handing over ceremony took place at Choithram Office on Wilberforce Street in Freetown.
In his address, the Financial Comptroller of Choithram International Foundation, Harish Agnani ,said the donation is a regular gesture from Choithram International Foundation set up by Late Mr. T. Choithram Pagarani. He pointed out that every year funds are allocated to assist needy school going children in line with the vision of the of the late Mr. T. Choithram Pagarani in order to improve the education & health sectors in Sierra Leone.
He said this year Choithram International Foundation allocated Le 100, 000, 000 Million to the Scholarship Fund and a total of 139 children will benefit from this gesture.
He said that Choithram International Foundation has been regularly funding the Choithram Scholarship Fund since its inception in 1967.
Harish Agnani said prior to this gesture, Choithram & NATCO donated Le 40 Million for the construction of a fence at the Koya Town Health Post in Wellington, noting that this year they have a special case of a medical student from upcountry who needs assistance to pay his fees and they have decided to pay Le 7,500,000.00 as his fees for the 1st year.
“Choithram Int’l Foundation also provides funds not only for the day to day running of the Choithram Memorial Hospital but also to procure modern medical equipment to upgrade the facilities at the hospital to international standards,” he emphasized.
He noted that apart from these gestures Choithram Charity Trust also donates foodstuffs to Old Peoples Home and Children’s home every month all of which is considered as part of their Social Corporate Responsibility by the Choithram group.
He expressed appreciation on behalf of Choithram Int’l Foundation to the members of the Choithram Scholarship Fund Committee for their relentlessly efforts over the years to ensure that their venture is a success.
Commenting after receiving the Cheque, Chairman of the Choithram Scholarship Trust Fund Committee Eastline Palmer expressed appreciation to the Choithram International Foundation for the support the Foundation has been giving them all these years in order to undertake the exercise.
She said that Le 100, 000, 000 Million had been allocated to the Scholarship Fund that will benefit a total of 139 children including one year fees for the Medical Student, adding that the scholarship caters for all Sierra Leoneans regardless of tribe, region but as long as the individual meets the scholarship criteria it will be awarded.
She said they targeted 32 pupils from different Primary schools and 107 pupils from secondary schools across the country for this year’s scholarship.
She assured the Choithram International Foundation that they will make good use of the Fund and the scholarship will be awarded to the right beneficiaries.
