By: Aminata Sesay
In a landmark step toward improving rural education and community wellbeing, the remote village of Gbonkoboh in Kayaka Chiefdom, Koinadugu District, has welcomed its first-ever purpose-built primary school, thanks to a powerful collaboration between international donors, local NGOs, and visionary leadership.
The newly constructed Kawa Catholic Primary School represents more than just a building it marks a transformational milestone for generations of children who previously studied under trees and fetched water from distant streams.
This achievement is the result of a cross-border partnership between the Petrucci Family of Rome, Italy, Fonte Di Saprenza, and Little Steps Sierra Leone, a local NGO committed to uplifting underserved rural communities.
What began as a simple conversation abroad between former Minister of Works and Public Assets, Peter Bayuku Konteh, and an Italian friend, has since evolved into a grassroots movement driving rural transformation. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Mr. Konteh emphasized the power of strategic international partnerships in lifting rural communities out of neglect.
“We’ve built more than ten primary schools, one secondary school, three health centers, and several wells all through this collaboration,” he noted.
The new school features three furnished classrooms, an office, a storage room, clean water through a hand-dug well, and toilet facilities all essential services that were previously unavailable in Gbonkoboh. Until now, pupils had to defecate in nearby bushes and walk long distances to fetch water.
The event drew chiefdom authorities, education stakeholders, and community members who gathered to witness the historic handover of the school to the Koinadugu District Catholic Diocese, a move aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability and local ownership.
Paramount Chief Almammy Fanah described the project as “a brilliant initiative” and pledged his full support in monitoring and safeguarding the facility.
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) also commended the project and assured that it will deploy qualified teachers to the new school.
“This is how you complement government efforts,” said Yusufu Abdulai Kamara, Deputy Director of Education for the district. “We cannot afford to have such a facility without quality teaching.”
Amadu Tantan Conteh, Program Manager of Little Steps Sierra Leone, noted that their mission since 2000 has been to uplift deprived communities across Koinadugu and Falaba Districts. He confirmed that construction began in February and was completed in record time thanks to the dedication of the project team and timely donor support.
The emotional highlight of the ceremony came from Adama Kamara, a Class 4 pupil who shared:
“We used to sit on sticks under palm leaves. Today, we have a real school and water. We are proud and thankful.”
As Sierra Leone continues to grapple with rural infrastructural challenges, this initiative stands as a beacon of what is possible when global solidarity, local leadership, and community ownership converge.