By Ishmail Saidu Kanu
School materials, worth over 60 million old Leones, were offered to less privileged Children by the Mamie Mariama Justice Ganawah Education Foundation (MaMJGEF) over the weekend.
MaMJGEF is a national charitable Foundation working to contribute to the development of the education sector and campaigning for peace and tranquility in Sierra Leone.
Forty-two children [24 girls, 18 boys] each received 12 notebooks, 6 pens, 12 pencils, 3 eraser, 1 mathematical set, 2 sets of uniforms, 1 bag, 2 pairs of shoes, core textbooks and many other items.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Ark Community Center in Freetown, Executive Director of MaMJGEF, Mohamed Ibrahim Justice Ganawah expressed his delight, describing the event as a ‘dream come true’.
“I named this foundation after my mother. It all started on 15 October, 2022 when my colleagues at the office [IGR] helped me with the name MaMJGEF. November 11 we had a dedication service and on the 14 [his mother’s birthday] we officially launched the Foundation,” he intimated.
The ED added: “Let’s treat our future leaders [beneficiaries] with the utmost seriousness. I admonish the parents to give their children the required attention. It’s our obligation to take care of them; you have a big role to play.
“We have 1000s of children out there looking for similar opportunities. So let’s care for our children by setting high standards. My mother was passionate about education so she never settled for less. See where I am today; giving back to society.
“To my future leaders, please take your education seriously. Concentrate on your studies. If your parents are making the effort for your education, and MaMJGEF is supporting you, please ensure you focus on your education; do your best to achieve your goals.
“Everything about life is for you to give back to society. You don’t have to be rich to help others. No matter how little, if you decide to help others you will be able to create the required impact in society,” he noted.
Ganawah said the package for the children was evenly distributed, saying eight of the forty-two beneficiaries were not even going to school. He said they saw them around when they were doing their outreach and enrolled them into various schools.
He told the gathering that they hope to have 500 children by September 2023. “We are planning to go to other parts of the country, especially deprived communities to get the less privileged. We hope to get 15000 children by 2028,” the MaMJGEF ED pointed out.
He continued that the money for the Foundation comes from different individuals who always subscribe to the scheme. “We spent over 60 million Leones to put the packages together, thanks to all those who have been supporting the Foundation”.
Executive Director of MaMJGEF, Mohamed I.J. Ganawah ended by appreciating his volunteers who worked day and night to put the programme together, describing them as ‘wonderful’ and ‘exceptional’. Martha Baratay was singled out as a key volunteer.
Chairman of the event, Abdul Salam Kamara said it’s a dream come true to see all the kids smile, calling on all to help the needy. “You don’t know who that person will become in the future,” he stated.
He said the Foundation is here to empower children for the future, encouraging everyone to subscribe to the MaMJGEF scheme because ‘this is the only way to sustain the Foundation’.
The Chairman congratulated the beneficiaries, emphasizing the importance of the Foundation.
Parents and beneficiaries thanked MaMJGEF for the support, promising to do their best so their efforts will not go in vain.
