Touched by childhood experience, Mother of five children set up a charity organization to support vulnerable children in Sierra Leone
Born and growing up in a family with love and passion for children, Tenneh Senessie Gooding who is now a mother of five beautiful children was touched by her childhood experience to start up the Tenneh Gooding Children’s organization.
Tenneh Senessie Gooding was born to a family who supported children and young people, at a young age, Tenneh Senessie Gooding use to share food with her friends who didn’t have food in school. touched by this childhood experience, she always wanted to make a change to support children in Sierra Leone.
Since establishing independence in 1961, Sierra Leone, a country located in West Africa, has suffered from various conflicts and injustices including a civil war that lasted from 1991 to 2002. As a result, Sierra Leone lacks significant development as a country, ranking 181 out of 189 on the 2019 Human Development Index. The nation remains impoverished. In fact, according to the United Nations Development Programme, approximately 60% of people live in poverty in Sierra Leone.
An absence of funding for educational programs leaves Sierra Leone behind in terms of gaining knowledge about civil rights or responsibilities. This contributes to gender inequality and the marginalization of women. The effects of gender inequality include women’s inability to join the workforce and a cultural view of women as servants for men. These ideas inhibit Sierra Leone’s development in a world that values education and women’s rights.
Smile and fortune could smile on Tenneh Senessie Gooding when she traveled to the United States of America where she continued with her education and currently works as a Health Care Professional. Tenneh Senessie Gooding was inspired by her childhood experience and the numerous challenges children face in Sierra Leone to start up her own charity organization to support children in Sierra Leone.
Since setting up the Tenneh Gooding Children’s Organization in 2017, Tenneh Senessie Gooding through her organization has supported over 5000 children in Sierra Leone including over 4 schools with schools materials, events, school feels, Quiz competitions, medical support, Government sensitization on Corona Virus, Valentine’s Day celebration, Christmas celebration and June 16 celebration and provision of launch to some children in schools
During an interview with Salone Messenger, the founder of the organization disclosed what she hoped to achieve in supporting children in Sierra Leone “blessings, love and peace. I want to see those beautiful children in the next 10 or 20 years doing great things in their lives.” she said.
TENNEH GOODING CHILDREN’S organization is a non-governmental organization that seeks to support deprived and unprivileged children registered in Sierra Leone.