James Tenga and Mariama Kamara, both pupils of the Community Primary School in Bompeh, Nemikoro Chiefdom, in Kono District, shared the challenges they faced before ActionAid’s intervention.
The project led to the construction of a three-classroom building and the provision of new furniture for the school.
For James, the transformation came as a huge relief. “We were going through a lot,” he recalled.
“We used to sit on blocks, and it hurt our bottoms. Our uniforms got dirty every day, and our parents had to wash them all the time.”
Mariama also spoke of the difficulties they faced and expressed heartfelt appreciation to ActionAid.
“Our writing was always shaky because the blocks we sat on were unstable,” she said. “But now we are happy. We have proper classrooms and good furniture.”
Head teacher Sia Janneh Lebbie described the struggles she endured before the intervention.
“We started by using a church building as our classrooms, but it leaked badly,” she said.
“ActionAidtoilets, promised to help us, and they built three classrooms with toilets two for the pupils and one for us teachers and they fulfilled that promise.”
She narrated how she lobbied ActionAid for the support, stressing the burden placed on parents. Many had to wash their children’s uniforms daily, and some even bought new ones every term due to the dirt and poor learning conditions.
“Some parents transferred their children to other schools. Our school was almost empty,” she explained. “Children sat on the floor to write. When I cried to ActionAid, they listened. They gave us 30 benches, tables, a cupboard, and three classrooms.”
Madam Lebbie added that ActionAid’s support essentially revived a school that was on the brink of collapse. “Now, more children are coming. We’ve had to extend our classes. I am very happy.”
With the school now rejuvenated, she is calling on ActionAid to further support them with two additional classrooms and an office to meet the growing enrollment.
UMC Primary School in Bompeh also benefitted from similar support. The head teacher, Sahr Matin Foray, expressed his gratitude.
“The atmosphere has changed for the better,” he said. “Our school population was about 50 pupils, but now we have over 200. Our pupils are performing well in the NPSE. As a community, we will work together to keep this school standing. We can use our own resources to achieve this.”
Speaking on remaining challenges, he highlighted the need for more space and a water facility.
