BY: MAC’IVAN KAKPINDI VANDY
Educationist like Nelson Mandela stated: “The most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” With the need for the young generation to inculcate reading habit, any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his needs, is good for him and once they learn to read, they are free forever.
In order to encourage and booster reading culture in young school pupils, Chernor Barrie with support from the Sierra Leone Education and Development Trust (SLEDT) has on Monday 11th December 2023 donated text books to pupils at the St. Francis (Upper) Primary School in Bo City. Chernor Barry who works with the British Charity organization, is an alumnus of the school, who had the urge of extending his much talked about community service to his alma mater.
Presenting the books to the pupils, Barrie informed the pupils and teachers of the school that donating the items serves as a way of developing the culture of reading in the pupils at such young ages. “The world is filled with endless possibilities and opportunities and I encourage you pupils to tap into those and be good citizens and God-fearing people of Sierra Leone and the world,” he encouraged the boys. He went on to discourage harmful substance intake, cautioning that harmful substance intake ruins their lives and future. “As a student, if you want to make it through life successfully, endeavor to make reading your habit. It has helped me while I studied here, helped several others and shall help you too,” Barrie motivated the St. Francis Primary school pupils. He pointed out that solely clinging to books related to your course is not very ideal for learners as when one reads books unrelated to their course areas, it broadens their horizons.
Barrie recently received an award for “Exemplary Community Service” from the Fourah Bay College Student’s Union Government at the Mr. & Miss FBC Pageant in Freetown for his notable community and charity work fueled by SLEDT in different parts of the country including but not limited to Bonthe, Shenge, Moyamba and Lunsar. He joined the Charity organization [www.sierraleoneaid.org.uk] in 2016 and has been volunteering for the service of children in deprived communities over the years. Through SLEDT, Chernor Barrie and team have been poised to paying school fees of a considerable number of children in deprived communities in the country, providing mobility equipment for physically challenged children and young people, supporting the education of visually impaired children, among many other things. Touching St. Francis Primary School according to him is a great feeling of giving back to his home. “This place contributed immensely to making me the personality I am today. This is where I learnt how to read and write the alphabet and so my being here and doing this is about giving back to my home; St. Francis Primary School,” Barrie pointed out. He equally advised the pupils to study hard and respect their teachers alongside as those are a solid bedrock of a successful academic. “I am where I am today, all thanks to gallant and dedicated men and women who taught and guided me while I was here from 2001 to 2007. Thank you, my dear teachers, for what you did for me and others like me, and for what you continue to do for our younger brothers,” Barrie wrapped up.
The school’s headmaster, Mr. Woneh filled with gratitude expressed that every good teacher could be proud of a successful alumnus who thinks and goes back home to give back to society. He said that him like all his teachers always have their pupils and former pupils in their numerous prayers as they take every child they teach as theirs. “Today, we are more than proud to receive you here and to receive these beautiful words and gifts for your younger brothers; these are what we always pray for and so we appreciate you on behalf of our pupils,” Woneh gratified. He lamented that many old pupils neither associate with the Primary schools they attended nor do they even want their names and identities mentioned closer to the school but Chernor Barrie coming home shows how grateful he is for what he received from the institution. Woneh and other teachers outpoured blessings on Barrie and the Sierra Leone Education and Development Trust (SLEDT) for their kind thought of and gesture to the St. Francis (Upper) Primary School in Bo City.
