Supplementary – Africell Shrugs Off the Rains To Commemorate June 16 With Local Kids

Concord Times (Freetown)

Ibrahim Tarawallie

21 June 2011

Freetown — As part of its corporate social responsibility, Africell mobile company last Thursday joined Music Makers and the Children’s Forum Network (CFN) to commemorate this year’s Day of the African Child with the theme, “Girl Child Education is a Must”.

A special event was organized outside the National Stadium where thousands of children from various schools in Freetown defied the wet weather to remember their colleagues who died in Soweto, South Africa in 1976 in the course of fighting for their right to be educated.

Africell head of media relations, Nancy L. Joseph, said the company was pleased to once again commemorate the day with children. She maintained that they are always committed to fulfilling their corporate social responsibility, while noting that it was not the first time they are partnering with Music Makers to observe the day.

“For children to achieve their aims and objectives, they must be educated; it is therefore important for them to put seriousness in their academic studies. We will stop at nothing in fulfilling our corporate social responsibility,” she said.

President of CFN, Edmond Fornah opined that the commemoration of the Day of the African Child was approved by the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU) and that Sierra Leone first commemorated it in 1993. He said the day should not be seen as a celebration but one to reflect and remember those that fought and died for their rights in South Africa.

“Children should concentrate on their academic work and change their attitudes for national development. All of us should come on board and support the development of children,” he urged.

Minister of Youth Employment and Sports, Paul Kamara, commended the company for their development work, while admonishing the children to put seriousness in their academic studies.

“The president is much more committed to seeing the advancement of children’s education in the country. It is only through education a person can succeed in life,” he said.

Chief executive officer of Music Makers, Alhassan Kamara, thanked Africell for their continued support, while advising children to be educated as that is the only way they would be respected in society.

Statement was also made by the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr. Soccoh Kabia.

The Sho-Sawyer Development Organization awarded a year’s scholarship to Esther Conteh, a JSS 1 pupil of Dr. SM Broderick Junior Secondary School and Augustine Fornah of the Apostolic Primary School – both winners of the musical competition.

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