By Foday Moriba Conteh
In celebrating Christmas day and as part of their support to the less privileged children in the country, “No Child Left Behind Initiative” in collaboration with the Jennifer Thomason Foundation has on Friday 25th December, 2020 feed over 500 hundred children after which they embarked on a Coronavirus sensitization drive within the Tikonko township in Bo District, Southern Province. The event took place at the BDEC primary school in Tikonko, Bo District.
Speaking during the event, the Chief Executive Officer of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Jennifer Adeshola Thomason, highlighted that over the past years children have been celebrating Christmas day in grand styles but lamented that due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country children are not opportune to celebrate it this year, adding that since the No Child Left Behind Initiative is an organization that has been working for the development and welfare of children in the country its members thought it fit to undertake the aforementioned feeding program within the Tikonko Township in Bo District.
She stated that at a time like this when the coronavirus is ravaging the world, the welfare of children should be considered as very important, adding that handing washing, social distancing and the use of facial masks are very important towards curtailing the spread of the virus in the country. In that regard they also used the opportunity to educate the children on hand washing and the use of face masks.
Jennifer Adeshola Thomason disclosed that her organization, which is working for the development and welfare of children in the country, has been in existence for over 4 years now with branches in some districts in the country, adding that as an organization they have been complementing the efforts of Government towards curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the country through the distribution of face masks and undertaking coronavirus sensitization, furthering that they are mainly doing feeding programs, back to school supplies etc. for kids.
A representative of the Town Chief of Tikonko showered praises on the CEO and other Executive members of No Child Left Behind Initiative for the kind gesture describing it as a move in the right direction towards the development of their children.
He maintained that as stakeholders in the country they are ready to give full support to the organization in order not to curtail the feeding program for their children but also consider them in future empowerment programs.
Secretary General of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Martha Mani disclosed that Christmas is an annual festival to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ which is observed on the 25th of December as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world and as an organization they decided to celebrate the day with children whom to them are their priority.
She disclosed that they decided to choose Tikonko for the aforementioned feeding program because they consider it to be one of the deprived communities in the country.
Aminata Vandy, Chairlady of Tikonko Township, expressed appreciation to No Child Left Behind Initiative for considering their township for the aforementioned feeding program, adding that the gesture was timely.
She added that as stakeholders of the community they warmly embraced the gesture as it has put smiles on the faces of the children and further pleaded to them that it should not be the end but to also consider them for future programs.
Karim Koroma, a Class 5 pupil of the BDEC Primary School in Tikonko, who happens to be one of the beneficiaries, extended gratitude to the No Child Left Behind Initiative for celebrating Christmas day with them as children, furthering that as children they felt very good for considering them as very important people in society.
He said that the celebration is a remarkable one in their lives as children, assuring them that all what they have learnt in the process of the celebration will be utilized which in turn will benefit them as children.
The event was climaxed with the distribution of Christmas gift to the children followed by a female football match.
