Well the adventure started on Wednesday 12th November and we headed first to Moyamba School to be met by the children doing some cultural dancing and then for a brief time of statements and fellowship. It was great to beback in the school were we were made very welcome.
Since so much happened over our ten days in Bo I am just going to quickly run through were we visited. On the Thursday we spent time at Kangahun and Masso Dasse, two schools in the Moyamba District on the way Bo.
Then over the weekend we went first to Bishop Sams 70th Birthday celebration and retirement do. It started with a service then on to the methodist hall for a party, and on the Sunday was Bishop Tuckers Enthronement.
On Monday we went back to the schools visiting Bo Coronation Field, the Bo Damballa Rd infants and Juniors. We then hit the road and headed on to Sahn a school still within the Bo District but 22miles away on dirt roads.
Tuesday we headed for our first day of two in the Pujehun District, going to Koiva , Vawahun and Helebu. On Wednesday we went Bayama, Massam Kpaka and finished with Gobaru. These schools are all around 40 miles form Bo but have some good links.
Thursday was on to Kenema District, visiting Blama, Komende and Talia. Komende in particular is a very difficult school. They are still yet unable to complete the building of their new school due to lack of funds so are currently meeting in the town square. After visiting these schools we headed to a place called Daru accomodation there cost me Le8000 around £1.90 for a night. I don't think you willl ever imagine what it was like but though I should add it so you know it isn't all glamour out here.
Friday we headed as far East to finish our visits in this Diocese visiting Baiima and Levuma two good school building that were both destroyed during the war but have been given govenment assistance. You will all be pleased to know that each school gave me a package to hand on to their link schools which is fantastic.
Then back to Bo before heading back to Freetown on Saturday to finish off the work there.
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Monday, 3 November 2008
Week beginning 3rd November
This week will be a simple report writing week. We originally had a trip to Bonthe planned sadly this has now been cancelled and we are going off there at the end of the month. This is because within the space of three hours 3 of the 4 diocesean cars broke down across Freetown, fortuately for me I wasn't in any of them but still it meant immediate arrangemnets needed to be changed. The week after this we will be back on the schools visits visiting a futher twenty three schools in two weeks in Bo diocese, so please be patient as we update this blog
Friday, 31 October 2008
What has been going on
It may now look like I have been having a holiday for the last 12 days, sadly for me this hasn't been the case at all. Over the last 12 days I have had two groups visit me. The first was from Holy Trinity School in Crawley. They came with 9 students and 3 teachers to visit their link school Bishop Johnson Memorial here in Freetown. My job was to cordinate their visit, it included the foundation school at BJMS and a trip up to Schlenker a school mentioned on this page before. I then went off to Bo for the consecration of the new Bishop of Bo. Hios name is Emmanuel Tucker. This also included meeting with a group of representatives from West Wittering community, also from Sussex. They have been assisting in the building of a new Secondary School in Bo. Our visit to Bo concluded with the opening ceremony followed by a cultural show on Wednesday and then returned to Freetown on the government bus at 4am on the Thursday morning. Quite a worldwind of two weeks. I will try to keep you uptodate with any futher news.
Monday, 20 October 2008
17th October
On Friday we continued to knuckle down to some school links work. We visited 11 schools starting off with two schools at Christchurch, where both head teachers were extremely welcoming and accommodating. We then continued on to St George’s Cathedral schools (made up of 5 schools) before finishing with St John’s Brookfield, both infant, and junior. The 1st set of schools is unfortunately located beneath a local church in what, I am sure, was meant originally to be the church hall. However, it is now made up of 10+ classrooms all poorly divided spilling noise and distraction onto each “separate” teaching environment. St John’s Brookfield is a similar set up, with many classes occupying a large hall. This of course is not ideal for any form of schooling. However, even with such bustle, noise and distraction here there is a strong sense of community and closeness surrounding these schools, which I am sure, is provided by living and working in such close quarters. Such communities give these schools great appeal to any school in England seeking a link to a school in Sierra Leone.
16th October
At 7am Pah Jalloh arrived in the vehicle with two further guests for the day, the Diocesan Secretary (Rev Edmondson) and Rev Wright, the Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Anglican education. By 10am we had reached the first of the day’s schools - at Rogbere Junction. The school is located, as the name suggests, at the meeting place of various roads. Furthermore, an adjoining road to, and from Freetown, being well surfaced does suggest a perfect location for an international link between schools. However, although the school is in desperate need, with many children studying beneath the trees in makeshift (open-air) classrooms, it is unlikely that the school will obtain a link with a school in the Diocese of Chichester. Unfortunately, we have quickly learned that without an enthused Principle in Sierra Leone, a link with an English school will prove to be near impossible. In this case, the Principle is just temporary, holding the position until a suitable long-term replacement is chosen.
Much concerned by the lack of facilities at Rogbere we continued inland to Makeni. The school, linked with St Margaret’s - Angmering, has a promising future. The classrooms are not overcrowded, as is the case with many of the schools in Sierra Leone, and nearly all of the children have a seat, and a desk to accompany it. However, one concern that both myself and Iain had towards the schools, was the way in which the 5 year old pupils entered their classrooms. After acquiring a grappling hook and climbing rope from the local rock climber, each child proceeded to haul their way up the massive step outside. Joking aside, the half a metre step was a ridiculous site to behold, causing both myself and Iain to hold our breaths as each child attempted to climb back down.
After a brief lunchy of crackers......and more crackers, we set off for the last school of the day located at Masheka. The school is newly formed and in desperate need of attention. With nothing but a well providing water, and a building to house the kids, this project we believe will be an exciting development project for a school in the Diocese of Chichester. Unfortunately, the school was destroyed during the rebel incursion, however, it was once attended by the President of Sierra Leone and hopefully this will provide a platform for its return to prominence.
The day was extremely long, tiring and productive, and once we reached Freetown we were both in serious need of some shut eye!
Much concerned by the lack of facilities at Rogbere we continued inland to Makeni. The school, linked with St Margaret’s - Angmering, has a promising future. The classrooms are not overcrowded, as is the case with many of the schools in Sierra Leone, and nearly all of the children have a seat, and a desk to accompany it. However, one concern that both myself and Iain had towards the schools, was the way in which the 5 year old pupils entered their classrooms. After acquiring a grappling hook and climbing rope from the local rock climber, each child proceeded to haul their way up the massive step outside. Joking aside, the half a metre step was a ridiculous site to behold, causing both myself and Iain to hold our breaths as each child attempted to climb back down.
After a brief lunchy of crackers......and more crackers, we set off for the last school of the day located at Masheka. The school is newly formed and in desperate need of attention. With nothing but a well providing water, and a building to house the kids, this project we believe will be an exciting development project for a school in the Diocese of Chichester. Unfortunately, the school was destroyed during the rebel incursion, however, it was once attended by the President of Sierra Leone and hopefully this will provide a platform for its return to prominence.
The day was extremely long, tiring and productive, and once we reached Freetown we were both in serious need of some shut eye!
Friday, 17 October 2008
Wednesday 15th October
We left the house at 8am and it took us 55mins to get up to Holy Trinity, its only 2miles away!! We were greeted at the gate by the curate of the parish and were guided into the curates office we here met with the wonderful Mrs Finney(head of the infants school), Mrs George(head of the Girls Primary) and Mrs Williams(head of the Boys primary) we spoke about their concerns and the schools well being. It 3 schools that have such a wonderful atmosphere we were then introduced to each classroom and had a small tour of the buildings.
We left them around 11.00am and went on to St Philips. We first visited the parish office and before long I had my hands inside a printer trying to fix a small ink cartridge issue (fortunately it wasn’t too serious and we didn’t need Duncan). We were then given a drink and escorted into the school. The parish have been trying really hard to build a new hall that can be used as classrooms. It is close to be finished but unfortunately it has a whole year group(four classes) sharing it. This means there are approximately 200 pupils trying to be taught in one room. Otherwise the school has fairly good facilities and two superb headteachers Mrs McCormack(head of the Infant school) and Mrs Kamara(head of the junior). This school has an existing link with one of our schools but has unfortunately there has been no contact in three years.
Finally we visited Bishop Crowther. This is a school in a fantastic compound. The Infant school with a new head Mr Clarkson has excellent buildings with 8 large rooms that have recently been decorated. The junior school however has been struggling with the use of the old church building. Fortunately this shouldn’t be for too much as they have been given a grant by the ministry of education to build 2 new classrooms. This is very uncommon is Sierra Leone as the Ministry doesn’t have much money. This is al being overseen by Mrs Comber who has been head for over 15 years.
We left them around 11.00am and went on to St Philips. We first visited the parish office and before long I had my hands inside a printer trying to fix a small ink cartridge issue (fortunately it wasn’t too serious and we didn’t need Duncan). We were then given a drink and escorted into the school. The parish have been trying really hard to build a new hall that can be used as classrooms. It is close to be finished but unfortunately it has a whole year group(four classes) sharing it. This means there are approximately 200 pupils trying to be taught in one room. Otherwise the school has fairly good facilities and two superb headteachers Mrs McCormack(head of the Infant school) and Mrs Kamara(head of the junior). This school has an existing link with one of our schools but has unfortunately there has been no contact in three years.
Finally we visited Bishop Crowther. This is a school in a fantastic compound. The Infant school with a new head Mr Clarkson has excellent buildings with 8 large rooms that have recently been decorated. The junior school however has been struggling with the use of the old church building. Fortunately this shouldn’t be for too much as they have been given a grant by the ministry of education to build 2 new classrooms. This is very uncommon is Sierra Leone as the Ministry doesn’t have much money. This is al being overseen by Mrs Comber who has been head for over 15 years.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Friday 10th Otober
Today Dunc was due to leave us to head back to life in England but since his flight wasn't till 7pm that night we thought we would take the opportunity to visit the school at Lungi. Lungi is the peninsula opposite Freetown where the international airport is.
Lungi Primary was a school that used to have a lionk woith one of our schools. Unfortunately over the years the link faded. I think this is mostly due to lack of computer access and unreliable post. For this school to access the internet they must take the hour ferry crossing to Freetown and then find a internet cafe (which are quite unreliable) and then prepare for the hour journey back. Abit of a long haul really. We were warmly welcomed and the school was desperate for a new link but it will probably be difficult to manage.
Lungi Primary was a school that used to have a lionk woith one of our schools. Unfortunately over the years the link faded. I think this is mostly due to lack of computer access and unreliable post. For this school to access the internet they must take the hour ferry crossing to Freetown and then find a internet cafe (which are quite unreliable) and then prepare for the hour journey back. Abit of a long haul really. We were warmly welcomed and the school was desperate for a new link but it will probably be difficult to manage.
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