News » Our Patron enjoys visit to project schools
Our Patron enjoys visit to project schools
August 12, 2011
Goats, dogs, cockerels, circling vultures and crows, tooting horns, croaking frogs, rubbish, rain beating down on rusty tin roofs, washing, loud voices, people congregating, the night never sleeping, children on the streets begging or selling… those are some of the images that have stuck in my fond memory of my first visit to Freetown for nearly half a century. I returned to Freetown at the request of my mother’s youngest sister who wanted to see me before she died. I was returning to the home of my early childhood. It should not have taken me so long to go back.
As well as visiting my family, I wanted to visit some of the schools that the Lottie Betts-Priddy Education Trust supports. I first visited the Regent Rural Education Community Primary School, set in the hills outside Freetown. The school children had finished school for the day, but I had the pleasure of meeting the school’s enthusiastic and charismatic head master Mr. Leigh. who showed me around the school and on request highlighted the many difficulties and obstacles faced by the school, its teachers and children. Despite all this, he was enthusiastic and optimistic about what clearly is his life’s work. Sadly, Mr Leigh is to retire in just under two years causing great concern for the future well being of the school and its children.
The second school I visited was the Thomas Peters situated at Percival Street, in Freetown. There the school children were in attendance, all neatly turned out in their uniforms. I met the headmaster, pastor and other teachers. The children did some readings, sang some songs and the exuberance of the session led some of us to engage in some dancing (see photos!). The school is due to undergo major renovations, due in no small part to the work of the Charity in association with another charity, Make it Happen in Sierra Leone, which is funding the project.
The children were given pens donated to the charity. Fortuitously for the children the ice cream man turned up just before we were about to leave. A parting gift of an ice cream in a cone for each pupil left us with the scene of about 60 children excitedly (but in an orderly fashion) queuing up for their ice cream – a tribute to the effective discipline of the teachers. There is much that needs to be done, but it is clear that every contribution, however small and in whatever form, can make a difference. The Lottie Betts-Priddy Education Trust is making a difference. I hope to contribute to that work when I return to my childhood home again.
