Alex Channon spreads his enthusiasm for Sierra Leone

After his visit to Sierra Leone and the EducAid schools, Alex Channon has sought to raise interest in and awareness of both the country and the programme.  Here he is telling the youngsters he teaches, about Sierra Leone, during a non-uniform fund-raising day for EducAid.

Thank you Alex and Thank you St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary school, Salford.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk

The assessment of some recent visitors to EducAid Lumley

It was quite some time before coming to Sierra Leone, that a friend sent us an article from a British newspaper featuring a school in Freetown. It had been started by Miriam, who as a young woman, in post war Sierra Leone in 2000, recognised the urgent need for access to secondary education for all, and not just those who could afford both the fees and a school uniform. And so, education to aid those who had no means to attend school, started on Miriam’s veranda. The programme is now known as EducAid.

We had heard about EducAid from many different people, and as Janice was preparing a course on curriculum development, a visit to EducAid was well overdue. Situated in a densely populated area of Freetown called Lumley, it took us time to find it, although we had been sent directions. Housed in an incomplete three-storey concrete building, EducAid demonstrates a unique form of education in Sierra Leone. Unlike other forms of secondary education, it is free and the students do not wear a uniform. Its ethos is that of holistic education, developing all aspects of what it means to be human. This is done, not through a didactic teacher dominated approach, with passive students, occasionally answering a question or copying from the board, then learning what you have copied for exam purposes. Instead, EducAid has developed hundreds of packs of materials that the students need to work through, at their own pace, following an entrance assessment of what stage they are at. The philosophy of the school is not geared towards passing exams or getting a good job, but to provide the students with critical and analytical skills to gain knowledge, and also to apply that knowledge to other aspects of life.

EducAid now has five schools in different locations across Sierra Leone. Although heavily dependent on donations of cash and kind in order to ensure that quality education is available to the poor, the characters that the school builds are not dependent on others, as the skills they have developed and the knowledge they have received enhance their personal, social and economic well-being. Being a student at EducAid is demanding, although free, it is not an easy option. If you are not prepared to be accountable for your work, to be challenged, and to think for yourself, then you will not succeed. But with commitment and determination each of the graduating students will make a dynamic and life enhancing contribution to the future of Sierra Leone.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk

Putting EducAid Rolal on the map with a winning drama

Abdul Dumbuya and his drama group are the talk of the town in Port Loko.

The HIV/AIDS Media Global Fund Project organised a drama competition to which EducAid Rolal was invited.  

Once again, the EducAid team walked away with the honours.

Congratulations to all of you who competed and well done too to Abdul who trained the team!

Trophy awarded to the EducAid Rolal drama group for their contribution to the HIV/AIDS drama competition.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk

Ali takes to the hills for EducAid

Alison in training for her big run.

Alison Higgs, long term friend of EducAid, who was last featured on this blog in a very fetching Santa outfit, is on the run again.

Alison teaches art at the Bridge Academy in Fulham and has got the whole school behind her fundraising (and awareness raising) campaign.  She will be running the Munro half marathon (all uphill - the woman must be mad!) to raise £2000 for EducAid.

Here is the link to her webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Team-Bridge-Academy

All the very best with your training and getting the cash in!

Many many thanks.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk

Lily and Richard develop their new radio interest during their trip to SL

In Lily's own words.......

Mics, Chimps and Angel Delight                                                                        Lily Johnson

I was thinking of going to Alton Towers in February half term, but then I got an invitation to spend two weeks with EducAid in Sierra Leone. Guess which one I chose?

My dad, Richard, and I set off with a suitcase full of computer bits and science books for the students (along with Angel Delight and Ainsley Harriott’s ‘Cook in a Cup Cous Cous’ to keep us going). After spending our first weekend in Freetown, the capital of SL, we made the 5 hour journey, to Port Loko, along the dusty road, full of potholes. Well, more like dirt track! Thank goodness we weren’t there in the rainy season.  When we arrived at Rolal School, we were given more than a  warm welcome with people waving and greeting us.  We had been given a project – to lead the students in making a radio programme. Their microphones had been sitting in a cupboard for several months. But briefed by Chris and Julia Mann in radio techniques, we managed to get the equipment up and running. The students were very enthusiastic and formed their own production crew. Chairman was Mohammed. A confident young man who liked to get things done. After 4 days of interviewing, singing, editing and voice overs, the crew had produced a 20 minute radio programme. All 14 members were rewarded for their efforts with a packet of Haribo and a pen. All gratefully received!

After 7 days in such a remote area, Dad and I retreated to the chimp sanctuary called Tacugama, along with two other English volunteers – Kit and Eddie – for a couple of days R&R. In the middle of the forest where all we could hear were the sounds of woodpeckers, the chimps singing and the odd bush baby at night! However, we were quite spooked by the stories of Bruno and the other 30 chimpanzees who had escaped in 2007. Remember, chimps are 5-8 times stronger than a grown man!  Although most of them returned of their own accord to the sanctuary, Bruno is still on the loose!

Fed, showered and refuelled with Laughing Cow cheese and Dolmio pasta, we returned to Lumley school in Freetown. This time we were staying in Miriam’s flat (which thankfully has a flush toilet and not just a lizard infested latrine).  We did a similar project with the Lumley crew, but this time there was a theme of TB. Over the past few years, EducAid has lost several students to this disease. Like most African countries, TB is endemic in Sierra Leone. Treatment is free and very effective.  However, sadly TB often goes undiagnosed. The radio programme was a follow up to the recent awareness campaign the school had been promoting in assemblies. This time, after just 3 days, we had a finished product. Both programmes were played to both schools in assembly and were very successful!

Dad and I spent the final couple of days soaking up the sun. On the very last day we visited the children’s hospital. This was the biggest eye opener for me. It really hit me how lucky we are to have just the basics in hospitals, like a bed per patient, working fridges which store bloods and medicines, not having to share oxygen masks and even space for mummies to stay with their new born babies.  

Then I headed back on the 20 hour journey alone. I had the most amazing and extraordinary two weeks, I’ve learnt and seen so much, but the memories that will stay with me are the stories from the individual students. From the most hideous stories of the war, to their achievements through EducAid’s support. The friends and smiles that I have met have all been amazing. The trip just wouldn’t have been possible without other people’s help. I’d like to thank all the lovely staff and students who were welcoming, smiley and made living in those conditions bearable. Also thank you to the other English volunteers out there – Pat, Kit, Eddie and Sean who showed us around and were a great team. And finally, a big thank you to Miriam Mason-Sesay for inviting me to see the amazing work EducAid is doing.

www.educaid.org.uk

www.tacugama.com

www.welbodipartnership.org/our_work.html

And the links to the radio programmes are: 

http://www.communityalbums.com/music/tb-can-be-cured

http://www.communityalbums.com/music/educaid-rolal-today

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk

Great initiative taken by the Magbeni staff and students

It is incredibly encouraging when staff and students take unprompted initiatives, for the improvement of the service provided by EducAid, even at considerable personal effort.

The photo below is of the first half of a girls' dormitory and female staff quarters being built with great support from staff and students.  The students have made the bricks themselves and are helping as much as possible with the construction.

This was not a planned activity and had it been, we would have expected a far greater cost but their willingness to contribute has made the whole structure possible at under £1500!

Well done AA and well done the Magbeni team.

Please keep up the good work!

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk

Mohamed Sannoh continues his studies

Mohamed Sannoh, one of EducAid's earliest students (he joined us at the age of 10 when we sponsored him at primary school before we had our own schools) is celebrating again.

We were very proud of Mohamed's achievements when he became our first EducAidian graduate to finish his degree, completing a four year Accounting course at Fourah Bay College.  He was supported through his studies by friends of EducAid.

He has subsequently served his alma mater, working as accountant and logistician.  It is wonderful to have one of our own, trustworthy and committed, taking on this vital role.

Thanks to further friends of EducAid, Mohamed will continue his accounting studies undertaking a distance CIMA course, an internationally recognised professional accounting qualification.  

Not bad for a boy who ran away from his war ridden village at the age of 6 who, after losing all family, ended up living on market tables and pushing barrows in the central Freetown market!

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to educaid.org.uk .