Five Junior and Senior Secondary Schools and a public Library in Kabala Town- Koinadugu District, have received textbooks from donors in the United Kingdom (UK). The donation was facilitated by Professor Jimmy Kandeh- a Sierra Leonean academic scholar based in the US, and the Founder and Chief Strategist of Project 1808 Inc, Dr. Alhaji U. N’jai. The textbooks, which include higher level Science, Technology and Mathematics #STEM, were jointly donated by Nick Sandiford, Behabay Koroma and Maynard Cox-George, and were received by Project 1808 Inc. in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The first set of handing-over was done on Friday 2nd December, by Dr. Alhaji U. N’jai, to the Principal of the Kabala Junior Secondary School (KSS), Mr. James S. Conteh, during the school’s morning assembly. This was followed by other presentations to the Loma Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Kabala Senior Secondary School (KSS), Kabala Town library, Ahmadiyya Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Yogomaia Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, and Haffia Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, all in the vicinity of Kabala town.
According to Dr. N’jai, the idea to facilitate this donation was borne out of his organization’s goal to contribute to, and promote, contemporary and practical learning in Sierra Leone. He believes that “updated learning textbooks or materials is a definite way to get pupils to understand the current changes in the different fields of studies, and practicalizing the knowledge gained to make impacts in their communities.”
Dr. N’jai admonished the students to utilize the textbooks which he hopes will make great impact to them especially in external or public examinations. He advised them to prioritize the culture of reading books instead of spending a majority of their time on social media- “it is very important to read, but you have to reduce the time you spend on social media,” he advised.
He indicated to the students at KSS that the line in their school song- “we shall keep in mind that we learn for life” means that learning is a continual process that requires constant exposure to new materials and thoughts. He added that Science is about critical thinking and discovery. Dr. N’jai informed the students that the annual Science and Leadership Festival #SCILEAD will be held in January 20th -22nd, 2023. He added that leadership is pivotal in every aspect of one’s life or professional field. “Even if you are a good medical doctor, Engineer, or a community stakeholder but cannot be a good leader, you cannot lead in your field,” he said. He therefore admonished the students to ensure that they participate in the Sixth National SCILEAD.
Project 1808 is a non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin that has long been involved in youth capacity building and community development in Sierra Leone through a School-Community-University partnership model. The organization is currently supporting the education and well-being of over 400 students in the Koinadugu District of Sierra Leone through scholarships, after-school classes, computer literacy programs, and leadership opportunities
