By Nasratu Kargbo
In a bid to complement government’s radical inclusion policy, Child Fund has built six safe spaces where young out of school girls with kids can leave their babies to be taken care of whilst in school, according to Child Fund’s Country Director Victor Kamara.
In an interview with the media on the 23rd November 2023 after the handing over of three classrooms and WASH facility to the Sengbe Pieh Memorial School in Mambo, Western Rural District, Kamara explained that the spaces are being built in all the schools that they wish to implement their project. He further explained that they have been targeting out of school girls to enroll again, with a safe space for them to leave their babies.
He said that the babies are taken care of in the safe spaces, adding that they want to create an environment that allows the girls to learn adequately knowing at the same time their kids were being well taken care of.
Speaking on the WASH facility they’re providing, the Country Director explained that they built two separate toilets for male and female use in in each building, with water running in all areas to enhance proper hygiene for the kids.
In addition, the institution also provided a solar powered borehole that supplies water through different taps at various points in the school compound, so pupils will have safe drinking water whilst in school.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education, Mamusu Massaquoi in an interview commended Child Fund for the work they undertook, stressing that safe drinking water and proper and hygienic toilet facility are necessary for the health and wellbeing of the young learners.
“It very difficult for a child to be in school and not have access to toilet facility or safe drinking water” the Minister said.
She called on the school management to ensure proper handling of the facilities that have been handed over to them.
Programme Manager of Child Fund Korea Jaeun Nam said they have been working to increase access to secondary school education for girls residing in the Western Area District of Sierra Leone.
Naam said her institution works to nurture children’s dream in areas that include education and disaster risk reduction, explaining that they believe that children are the future generation.
The three year project is implemented by Child Fund Sierra Leone with funding from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Child Fund Korea and Child Fund International.
The project which is set to end on the 31st December 2025 will be implemented in six schools in the Western Area District. Apart the two schools mentioned above that have already been constructed, the others to benefit are: Services Secondary School at Juba, Government Rokel Secondary School, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Secondary School in Waterloo and Fourah Bay College Secondary School at Mount Aureol.
The project seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (27/11/23)
