By: Sallu Kamuskay
Dutch entrepreneur and philanthropist Brian Wegdam, owner of Wegdam Food Link (WFL) and founder of the Wegdam Foundation, has on Friday, December 6th, paid a courtesy visit to the pupils and staff of the We Yone Child Foundation School in the George Brook community of Freetown, Sierra Leone. He toured the We Yone Child Foundation School, an institution that has benefited from his foundation’s support, including the construction of a 9-classroom school, a kitchen, a hall, a computer skills training center, and a community bridge in the George Brook community, Dwarzark.
The project aims to provide sustainable education and care to children in the community, as well as empower young and old people by addressing transportation challenges and improving access to essential services. Wegdam received a warm welcome from Santigie Bayo Dumbuya, the founder of the We Yone Child Foundation, who personally guided him around the school. The tour highlighted the positive impact of the Wegdam Foundation’s contributions, reflected in the smiles and excitement of students and teachers alike.
During his address, Wegdam expressed heartfelt gratitude for the community’s reception, calling the experience deeply moving. “When I see poverty and injustice, I feel compelled to act,” he said. “My motivation comes from wanting to create opportunities for those who might not otherwise have them.”
Wegdam urged the students to take full advantage of the opportunities before them, stressing that education is a powerful tool for transformation. “Good education means good classrooms, proper buildings, quality furniture, and, most importantly, great teachers,” he emphasized. “This is my support to you—it is now up to you to take the chance. Education is key. With it, you can become somebody.”
The newly established tailoring institute, created through the partnership between the Wegdam Foundation and the We Yone Child Foundation, aims to provide young people with vocational skills, offering an alternative path to self-reliance and economic independence.
Santigie Bayo Dumbuya praised Wegdam for his steadfast commitment to the George Brook community. “Brian Wegdam’s support goes beyond infrastructure; it’s about hope and the belief that every child deserves the chance to dream and succeed,” he said.
Wegdam’s words resonated deeply with the students and the community: “Take your chance and make it count.”
The Wegdam Foundation, a spin-off of the activities of Wegdam Food Link BV, focuses on trade and investment in Africa. While abroad, Brian Wegdam often encounters extreme poverty, injustice, and harsh conditions. Despite these challenges, he also witnesses the resilient spirit of local people who are working to overcome these hardships. The foundation aims to support these local heroes in their fight against poverty and injustice. It generates resources to support projects in regions where Wegdam is actively doing business, ensuring that financial aid and relief supplies are delivered efficiently, with no overhead costs.
