On 29th February 2024, Eric Massally, Director of NGO Affairs, alongside esteemed figures, including the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, USAID Country Representative, and CRS officials, participated in a significant event in Bendukoro Town, Diang Chiefdom, Koinadugu District.
The occasion marked the official inauguration of a refurbished school block, with latrines and water facilities (Roman Catholic School), made possible through the generous funding of the CRS’s McGovern-Dole Food For Education Program. Attended by local leaders, educators, and community members, the ceremony underscored collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure in the region.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director Massally emphasized the pivotal role of education in community development and lauded partnerships between NGOs, governmental bodies, and local stakeholders. He commended the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for guiding educational initiatives and highlighted the importance of the “big five game changers” in driving transformative progress. These game changers include Feed Sierra Leone, Human Capital Development, Infrastructure and Technology, Job Creation and Revamping the Economy.
He also mentioned the five enablers in the recently launched Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030). Massally emphasized the significance of food self-sufficiency in empowering farmers and the private sector. Expressing gratitude for CRS’s collaboration, particularly in policy development such as the home-grown food policy, Massally emphasized the significance of food self-sufficiency in empowering farmers and the private sector. He praised CRS for their support in advancing free quality education and urged continued assistance for further progress.
Stressing effective resource utilization and community empowerment, he underscored the principle of localization in implementing initiatives. Gratitude was extended to the United States Department for Agriculture (USDA) for their support, with a plea for ongoing assistance to the people of Sierra Leone, especially in Koinadugu District.
The event concluded with optimism, as attendees explored the upgraded facilities, symbolizing a brighter future for education in Diang Chiefdom.
