Children in Sierra Leone rename their school the Piers Simon School

Nov. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- The Phase II project, overseen by Danielson Kargbo has been in operation since June 2009 when Luke Simon, Charity Liaison Officer at the Piers Simon Appeal, and volunteer documentary photographer Jenny Hardy visited New England during the delivery of the first SchoolBags to Sierra Leone.

The New England Community is located in an undeveloped part of the city, perched high up in the hills overlooking a drinks factory and the city’s rubbish dump. With a population of around 3000 people, the vast majority of its residents are very poor and live in corrugated iron sheds. During the initial visit Danielson explained, “Most of the parents were unable to pay the fees required for their children to go to school so the New Englanders decided to build their own instead at the heart of the community.”

The school receives no help from the government and as a result the resources in it are extremely limited. During a meeting with the New England Community Chair, James Alimamy Samkoh explained how the children learn. “If they can find a scrap of paper or something to write with they will use it, otherwise the children have nothing and just try to remember the information from the teacher.”

On Friday 11th November, 200 SchoolBags and boxes full of donated school resources including library books, chairs and knitted teddies arrived at the New England Community for the children. Also in the consignment was the Piers Simon School banner, which now sits proudly on one of the tin sheds that makes up school.

The Piers Simon Appeal and School in a Bag are committed to the continual support of the New England Community and the Piers Simon School. Charity Liaison Officer Luke Simon said, “We are humbled and honoured that in their gratitude the New England Community have named the school after Piers. The SchoolBags and their contents will transform not only the way the children learn but also the way in which their teachers monitor their progress and achievements.

“The school has grown since our last visit in June 2009 so there is a need to send more SchoolBags and resources. Also, due to the heavy rains, there are some structural repairs that need to be addressed. Our dream would be to seek some financial backing so we can repair, rebuild and transform the learning environment for these children.”

The PSA is a disaster relief charity that delivers aid worldwide through donations and via the School in a Bag project. This life-changing initiative has helped over 34,500 vulnerable, orphaned children across the globe go to school. If you are interested in helping or would like more information about the Piers Simon School project please email info@schoolinabag.org.