The Choithram International Foundation has awarded scholarship grants to 283 pupils drawn from various schools across Sierra Leone, as part of its ongoing support for education and social development.

The presentation ceremony was held on Thursday, 29 January 2026, at the Choithram Head Office on Rawdon Street, Freetown, and was attended by beneficiaries, parents, guardians, representatives of the Scholarship Committee and members of the media.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of the Choithram Group, Harish Agnani, reaffirmed the Foundation’s long-standing involvement in education, healthcare and social welfare in Sierra Leone. He noted that the scholarship programme has been implemented continuously for more than five decades and has remained operational even during periods of national difficulty, including the civil war, the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Mr. Agnani explained that the scholarship scheme is a grant-in-aid rather than a full scholarship and is awarded strictly on merit. He stated that the selection of beneficiaries is carried out independently by the Scholarship Committee, without involvement from Choithram management, and that continued support is dependent on beneficiaries maintaining good academic performance.

For the 2026 academic year, the Foundation disbursed a total of NLe285,000 to support the 283 beneficiaries.

According to Mr. Agnani, the initiative reflects the vision of the late Thakurdas Choithram Pagarani, founder of the Choithram Group, who emphasized giving back to society through education and healthcare.

Beyond education, Mr. Agnani outlined the Foundation’s ongoing investments in healthcare through the Choithram Memorial Hospital. He announced that a team of specialist doctors from Germany is expected to arrive in early February 2026 to conduct plastic and head surgeries, while a large-scale free cataract surgery programme, supported by specialist teams from India, is planned for March 2026. He added that all services under these initiatives, including treatment, medication, transportation and follow-up care, will be provided at no cost to patients.

According to the Foundation, more than 1,500 free cataract surgeries were conducted in 2025, with expectations that the 2026 programme could reach up to 2,000 beneficiaries. The Foundation also indicated that it regularly supports old people’s homes, children’s institutions and other social causes nationwide.

Representing the Choithram Scholarship Fund Committee, Cornelia Gabbidon expressed appreciation to the Foundation for sustaining the programme and for supporting pupils at primary, junior secondary and senior secondary levels. She described the grants as a relief to parents facing financial difficulties and noted that the initiative complements the Government’s Free Quality Education programme.

She advised beneficiaries to remain disciplined and committed to their studies, warning that pupils who fail to show improvement would not be considered for future support. She also encouraged parents and guardians to ensure that the funds are used strictly for educational purposes.

Parents and beneficiaries also shared brief remarks during the ceremony, expressing gratitude for the assistance and noting that the grants would help ease school-related expenses.

The programme concluded with the formal presentation of a cheque by the Chief Executive Officer of the Choithram Group to a representative of the Scholarship Committee, followed by the distribution of grants to the beneficiaries.

The Choithram International Foundation stated that it remains committed to expanding access to education and healthcare as part of its broader social responsibility agenda in Sierra Leone.