Compassion For Children (C4C), a faith-based a non-governmental organization, on Monday 1st July 2019 in Bo City, was launched during a short ceremony. C4C CEO, Patrick M. Saidu, disclosed that the group is poised to heed to Jesus’ call to embrace children and avoid despising them.
Highlight of the official launching of C4C was the distribution of learning materials to pupils of Nwumbe Pre-primary School been graced by the Education Ministry, Bo City Council and media representatives.
In his welcome statement, CEO Saidu bemoaned that, although being classified as the future leaders, most of Sierra Leonean children are subjected to inequalities. With a mission “To show love, care and compassion for the most vulnerable kids in Sierra Leone by providing support and assistance with food, shelter, clothing, educational materials and medical supplies”, CEO Saidu stressed that although C4C is an apolitical organization it is set to collaborate with the current government more especially in unrolling the Free Education Policy. With the theme “No Child Left Behind”, CEO Saidu noted that C4C aims at serving the most vulnerable children from very low socio-economic backgrounds countrywide.
On the genesis of C4C, CEO Saidu said it was formed by a group of Sierra Leoneans who tremendously suffered poverty and ostracization while they were children but are now residing in the United States of America.
CEO Saidu commended the initiators of C4C and called on other citizens in the diaspora to emulate their show of patriotism.
Making a statement Councilor Abdul Razack Saidu opined that the presentation of learning materials was timely and in-line with the government’s priority for children – education. According to him, although the government is doing everything possible to turn its Free Education Policy a reality, there is an urgent need for the intervention of well-meaning organizations. He encouraged the children present to prioritize their education by making best use of the distributed learning materials.
While making a presentation statement, C4C Program Coordinator Pastor David S. S. Bayoh assured that the organization’s launching will be followed by series of children-centered projects with an aim to inject good morals into the beneficiaries. Pastor Bayoh venerated Jesus for teaching his disciples to love children. And this lesson of Jesus, Pastor Bayoh advised must not only stop with the apostles but should be manifested by all adults.
“C4C is starting by boosting education because the future development of every society depends on a knowledgeable population of children,” says Pastor Bayoh and encouraged the children to be resilient in acquiring knowledge.
The Head Boy of Nwumbe Pre-primary School, Mohammed Lamin Jaih thanked C4C for coming to their aid with quality learning materials. Head Boy Jaih lamented that most of the learning materials they have been using were substandard and adversely affecting their learning process. He assured that they will use the learning materials for their intended purposes.
