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The Kantanya Women’s Development Association, a leading Human Rights organization in Sierra Leone is currently embarking on establishing learning and educational center around the Lumley community in Western Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital.
Established in 1996, the organization has on Wednesday 8th May 2024 brought in partners from the United States at the Pentagon Extension area in Lumley where an ongoing construction of a Primary and Secondary School for vulnerable kids is ongoing.
Apart from educationally boosting vulnerable women and children, the organization is also a leading anti Female Genital Mutilation campaigner. The organization has been vociferous against the female genital mutilation practice.
Giving a brief background, Rev. King said the organization was established to restore dignity and hope to women and children who suffered enourmously as a result of the ten years rebel war in Sierra Leone and its aftermath by proving them with access to education, skills training and support.
According to Rev. Ann Marie King, the organization’s National Coordinator, the ongoing construction of the schools is part of KaWDA’s unwavering commitment to supporting education in vulnerable communities across the country. The Pentagon Extension community in Lumley, Rev. King said is one of the deprived communities in Western Freetown. The organization, she said has partners in the United States of America and other countries and they have been supportive of its development initiatives since it inception decades ago. Among the sponsors, the National Co-ordinator said are an organization called “Schools for Salone” from the US.
During a visit to the building site, Madam Cindy Nofziger, the Executive Director of Schools for Salone USA, said they are happy with the ongoing construction of the schools. As sponsors, she added they are confident that the ongoing project will not only benefit current generation but also unborn children.
“What we saw is a testament to the good motives of KaWDA and we urged the leadership of the organization to continue on that trajectory,” Madam Cindy Nofziger stated.
It is also worthy to note the there are already schools established by the organization and the kids have been attending. The ongoing school project is a continuation of the project.
Sahr Orlando Gbekie, the area Chief expressed satisfaction over what he said is the transformative projects under taken by KaWDA in his community. Chief Gbekie thank the sponsors and the leadership of KaWDA for changing the narrative in his community.
There’s also currently an ongoing skills training project for women in the community. KaWDA is training the women in gara tie dying, tailoring, soap making and among others.
Recently, the National Co-ordinator distributed sewing machines to vulnerable women’s group in Dasogoia Chiefdom, Tonkolili District, Northern Sierra. During the visit of the sponsors to the site, the community and parents were seen happily lavishing praises to the organization for it sustainable development in the community.
