By Foday Moriba Conteh
To complement the efforts Government is making towards enhancing and sustaining the National School Feeding Programme in the country, Partnering to Serve Humanity Consortium, comprising Tzu Chi Foundation, Healey International Relief Foundation, Lanyi Foundation and Caritas Freetown has on Friday 24th April, 2020 donated 6000 bags(10 Kilograms) of rice to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE). The event took place at the Caritas Head Office at Kingtom in Freetown.
Present at the handing over ceremony were the Director of Administration, National School Feeding Programme, Sorie I. Fofana, President/ Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE), David Benya, Chief Executive Officer of Lanyi Foundation, Philomena Yumkella, National Programme Coordinator of the Free Quality School Education Programme (MBSSE), Amara Sowa, Programs Manager for Healey International Relief Foundation in Sierra Leone & a volunteer of Tzu Chi Foundation, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, staff of Caritas and MBSSE.
In his presentation, the President/ Executive Director of Caritas (Freetown), Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh described the gathering as symbolic and timely as they will be handing over 6000 bags of Rice of 10 Kg to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE) to support the National School Feeding Initiative in the country.
He noted that even though organized schools are shutdown but the children are still living and they need food to survive. The Reverend Father stated that the consortium, over the years, has been working assiduously to support the Government and the people of Sierra Leone through diverse programs and initiatives, adding that they felt humbled to support the National School Feeding Program stating how they are always humble to serve especially the less privileged in society.
He said it is very important that the young shall grow well and that one way they could grow well is to have good nourishment which is why they decided to support the Ministry with the donated bags of rice.
He applauded the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE) for the tireless efforts they have been expending to implement the Free Quality Education program adding that the role the Ministry is playing is very key towards the development of the nation.
Chief Executive Officer of Lanyi Foundation, Philomena Yumkella, noted that her organization was primarily established to promote education further revealing how they have renovated schools and provided financial supports to pupils. She said that since Lanyi Foundation joined the consortium they have been supporting the course of education in the country.
Philomena maintained that the donation of the bags of rice to the Ministry is a manifestation of their continuous support towards the course to serve humanity. She extended appreciation to Tzu Chi Foundation for providing the bags of rice that were donated to the Ministry for the school feeding program stating also that Ebola Survivors are going to benefit.
Programs Manager of Healey International Relief Foundation in Sierra Leone & a volunteer of Tzu Chi Foundation, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, disclosed that in 2014, like many other humanitarian organizations, Tzu Chi Foundation responded to help the people of Sierra Leone when the Ebola scourge was consuming lives and threatening the livelihoods of people adding that the Foundation was initiated by Dharma Master Cheng Yen revealing that in her wisdom and humanitarian sprit she mobilized volunteers to coordinate relief support for Sierra Leone.
He said that the consortium is handing over 6000 bags of rice of 10 kilogram which will be distributed to targeted beneficiaries.
On his part, Director of Admin for the National School Feeding Programme, Sorie I. Fofana expressed appreciation to the Partnering to Serve Humanity Consortium for the kind gesture which he described as very timely.
He disclosed that the 6000 bags of rice of 10 kilogram will be distributed in 6 districts, Bombali, Karene, Kambia, Kono, Kailahun and Kenema, adding how primary school children will be targeted and each child will be provided with 10 kg of rice to take home. According to him, the distribution will be led by the Ministry with support by the partners of the consortium.
He said schools were selected at random within the most food insecure and vulnerable chiefdoms in each district according to the comprehensive food security and vulnerability analysis that was undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the World Food Programme in 2015.
He assured the Consortium that the Ministry will ensure that the bags of rice will be used for the intended purpose and will reach the targeted beneficiaries.
