By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
The community of Rochain-Mendy in the North West District of Karene has taken a significant step towards improving education by commissioning a modern primary school valued at over 120,000 euros.
This six-classroom building, complete with a head teacher’s office, storage room, water well, toilet facility, and protective fence, marks a milestone for a village that has long struggled to provide its children with a conducive learning environment on Friday, October 4th, 2024, in Port Loko.
The project, funded by Italian donors through Rev. Fr. Mario, an Italian priest who operates a local NGO in Lunsar, was officially opened during a well-attended ceremony. The event attracted government officials, development partners, and traditional authorities, all of whom came to celebrate what is considered a transformative moment for Rochain-Mendy.
For Sorie Kamara, an indigene of the community and Vice Principal of the Murialdo Vocational Institute in Lunsar, the day was realizing a long-held dream. As the brain behind the initiative, Kamara recalled local children’s challenges, such as walking nine kilometers to attend schools in nearby villages. Before the new school, classes were held under palm trees and later in an old agricultural store, neither of which provided the proper environment for learning. Determined to bring change, Kamara wrote a project proposal with the help of Rev. Fr. Mario, leading to the involvement of ENGIM, an international NGO that has supported development in the region. This project was a testament to the community’s resilience and determination to improve their children’s future.
Gerald Aruna, the Country Director of ENGIM International, echoed Kamara’s passion for uplifting his community. He noted that Rochain-Mendy was the first community he worked with as a development worker, and it held a special place in his heart. “It is inspiring to witness how far we’ve come from makeshift classrooms to a proper school building,” Aruna said, urging the community to take ownership of the facility and ensure it is maintained for future generations. He emphasized that it would be disheartening for the school’s resources to be misused or neglected after so much effort had gone into its construction.
The project has had a profound impact not just on the children but on the entire community. Mariatu Kalokoh, the head girl of the new school, expressed her gratitude on behalf of the pupils, thanking the donors and the community members who helped make the school a reality. She spoke of the hope and determination that the new school has instilled in them, promising to attend school regularly and work hard to succeed in their studies.
Rev. Fr. Mario, the keynote speaker, praised the community’s collaborative efforts in bringing the project to fruition but reminded them that this achievement is just the beginning. “This school is not just a building but a symbol of hope and progress. Parents must send their children to school and ensure they make the most of this opportunity,” he urged.
The community of Rochain-Mendy, primarily made up of subsistence farmers, had previously relied on a dilapidated school building that was barely functional, particularly during the rainy season. With the commissioning of this modern school, the narrative has shifted. The school was founded in 2003, just after Sierra Leone’s civil war, and has now evolved from a structure made of sticks and thatch into a beacon of hope.
As part of the celebration, the donors distributed learning materials to the pupils, marking a new chapter in the community’s educational journey. For many, this school symbolizes the growth of Rochain-Mendy and the potential for broader development. The head teacher’s words, Kaim Fofanah, echoed the day’s sentiments: “This is an age-old dream finally realized.”
The community now stands on the threshold of a brighter future, with education as its foundation.
