By Sylvia Costantini | Director of Development
Two weeks to go
We are very happy to report that our kitchen project is well under way since November 2015. The students of the We Are the Future nursery and primary school are receiving daily meals and the difference is already striking. Teachers have noticed more concentration and focus during the lessons as well as improved behavior. But that’s not it, the teachers themselves seem to have found an increased sense of purpose and motivation since the kitchen project started. John, the school director, reported that they now take more pride in doing their job and are showing more confidence, for example when asking the parents to respect the rules regarding lateness, neatness and homework. And the parents are in turn more inclined to comply because the school has now gained a higher status where service delivery is improved, all for the benefit and dignity of the children.
Most parents have found a way to pay the small fee requested to contribute to the meals. The ones who are still struggling have found an agreement with the school management on a case-by-case basis.
And that’s not all!
Thanks to your continued generosity and support, we are two weeks away from completing the kitchen building. By then, the staff will have a proper kitchen to cook the meals in and the children will have a small dining room with tables and chairs where they can enjoy their lunches.
In addition, the children — and their caretakers — are learning about food production and nutrition through the We Are the Future garden. Such school gardens and especially greenhouses are not that common in Sierra Leone and it is attracting a lot of attention from our students, but also older kids, who are becoming fascinated by the agricultural process. They can literally see seeds become vegetables, which are then cooked and end up in their plate. Such awareness is critical in a country like Sierra Leone, where most young people have turned their back to farming, often considered an activity for the rural poor, when there are indeed great opportunities and need for skilled farmers.
Slowly, the We Are the Future centre is showing the way for improved agricultural and nutrition practices and it is all thanks to you.
With our deepest gratitude,
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