Vida Scannell - My Story

The Lottie Betts-Priddy Education Trust is a small charity with big aims. It’s made up of a group of people who are absolutely determined to improve the education of deprived children in Sierra Leone. I came across the charity by chance, and I’m so glad I stumbled across it. The people involved are all devoted to its cause, but it is a minor organisation compared to many other charities operating in Africa, and this is why the charity desperately needs funding and support.

Sierra Leone has something of a negative stigma attached to it due to the civil war, and although the country has its problems, my experiences were nothing but positive. It was obvious the country had been ravaged by war as poverty was widespread and the infrastructure was in a bad way, with water shortages, power cuts and poor roads and buildings in abundance. Yet the general atmosphere of the country was so positive- I’ve never felt more instantly welcomed and comfortable anywhere else. Everyone involved in the charity, the teachers, and of course all of the children were so friendly and cheerful, which made my time there thoroughly enjoyable.  Even though they live, learn and work in such difficult conditions, they are still such vibrant and positive people.

I spent my first two weeks at Regent Primary School, and my last week at Thomas Peter’s Municipal School. Mr. Leigh, the head teacher of Regent, was the most selfless and devoted teacher, giving everything he could to his school and children. This attitude was also mirrored in his teachers, and those at Thomas Peter’s. These teachers exemplify the fact that TLBPET is a worthwhile charity to support. All of them give all they can to their children, even though they themselves don’t have a lot. If we could raise enough money to really help them and the schools, it would make such a difference.  

Both schools are in an appalling state which makes learning itself an extremely difficult process. Added to this there aren’t enough teachers to teach the children and there aren’t enough resources- it is education at its most basic. The only teaching method is chanting and repetition, which in itself is made incredibly difficult by the fact that the school is just one large room. Noise bounces off the walls and echoes around continuously. Teaching there is incredibly hard work and absolutely exhausting.  I have nothing but admiration for the teachers at both schools who were inspirational.  They were devoted, giving up so much of their spare time to help students who were eager to learn.

When I visited in June the children were doing their exams, so I decided to do art with them as it allowed them to use their minds differently. On my first day I realised instantly that I’d set my sights too high. They had hardly done anything creative before, and had no idea how to draw. They were all so enthusiastic though, and when I left both schools I really felt like they had improved. Through TLBPET I was able to give them the opportunity to do creative things they hadn’t done before, using resources that they wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. It also gave them the chance to experience learning in a more active and independent way.

The thing that most struck me during my time in Sierra Leone was that children there are not given the same opportunities that I was privileged to have. The education I saw hardly compares to one a Western child would receive. Then after school only the rich can afford to go to University. So many children have been left parentless after the civil war, and have no one who can afford to put them through higher education. These children deserve a chance to have a good education, and that is something TLBPET can help with. TLBPET recognises the importance of education, and is continually striving to provide as much help and support as they can to the children of Sierra Leone.