By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their continuous support to the less privileged children, especially girls in Sierra Leone, We Yone Child Foundation with support from The Paul Hodges Trust has on Wednesday 27th January 2021 launched the Joan Davis Scholarship Programme which is a 3 years Scholarship Programme for pupils in secondary schools mainly girls. The launching ceremony took place at the Dwarzark community Centre in Freetown.
The launching ceremony was followed by awarding of scholarships to 30 girls from different secondary schools within the Dwarzark community and distribution of school items including Text and Exercise Books, Uniforms with cash for payment of school charges.
In her address to the beneficiaries, parents and guardians, Founder/Executive Director of We Yone Child Foundation, Santigie Bayo Dumbuya, expressed profound appreciation to The Paul Hodges Trust for funding the Programme.
He disclosed that the aim of this programme is to provide educational opportunities for girls particularly in deprived communities and the country as a whole. He noted further that his organization seeks to equip young girls with skills and tools that will empower them to put them at a vantage position to have a better and brighter future.
Santigie Bayo Dumbuya revealed that the Joan Davis Scholarship Programme is a three (3) year Scholarship Programme for pupils in secondary schools mainly girls living in slum communities, adding that the Programme also included the dishing out of environmental friendly reusable pads for these girls.
He inspired pupils to take their studies serious underscoring how education is the key to success. “Education is a process of learning that one goes through in order to become somebody in society”.
Santigie Bayo Dumbuya encouraged them to take the opportunities the organization has offered in order to achieve their dreams and become great people in society who will in return give back to society.
He ended by admonishing parents to be aware of their roles and responsibilities towards the development of their children; underscoring that they have pivotal roles to play towards the growth of their children. In that regard he encouraged them to monitor their children’s activities.
Child Welfare Committee Coordinator of the Dwarzark community, Abu Turay, applauded We Yone Child Foundation for the initiative, adding that over the years the Dwarzark community has been one of the most deprived communities but said since this organization started its operations in the community they have given the community a new face look and they have empowered so many children in the community.
He cautioned parents to make good use of the given opportunity by doing their roles and responsibilities as parents.
Headman of Plum Stick within the Dwarzark community, David Thoronka said that as a headman he is very proud to have We Yone Child Foundation Organization operating in his community, furthering that they have contributed tremendously to the development of children within the community.
Princess Viller, a beneficiary thanked We Yone Child Foundation and The Paul Hodges Trust for the kind gesture which she graciously said was not only important but very timely in the midst of COVID-19 in the country.
She highlighted that considering the current economic crisis in the country the scholarship and the school materials will ease the burden on parents to purchase school materials.
