School Building Process in Sembehun and Kpakuma
Thanks to the generosity of the Jackson Hole community, InterConnections 21 and Schools for Salone have been able to launch a school building program in two villages in Sierra Leone--Sembehun and Kpakuma. Both of these villages are in the southern province of Sierra Leone. For years, these villages have been searching for a way to build schools that are large enough and have supplies for all of the local children. These children live in a country that is struggling to rebuild in the
wake of a terrible civil war (learn more on IC 21's Sierra Leone Background Info page). Students are thrilled by the prospect of education and a chance at a better life. Community members from both villages provide most of the labor on the ground, with support from Schools for Salone staff member Joseph Lamin. This project is especially dear to his heart as Semebehun is the village he grew up in. After years of helping Schools for Salone build schools around Sierra Leone, Joseph finally has an opportunity to help people in his own home town.
Schools for Salone Success Stories
The Masanga Primary School (before and after pictures)
Junctionla Primary School (Funded by Ishmael Beah; before and after pics)
Sembehun
Sembehun is a quiet village northeast of Bo, the second largest town in Sierra Leone.
Schools for Salone is working with villagers from Sembehun to build a structure with four classrooms, an office and a store room, separate latrines and a water well. This is all possible thanks to the funds raised during the IC 21 sponsored events in Jackson in August 2009.
The current school in Sembehun Joseph Lamin
Kpakuma
Kpakuma is also northeast of Bo. It is slightly larger than Sembehun, but can be more difficult to reach during the mud season becuase of bogged out roads. In fact, many of the school supplies have had to be carried in on foot. As shown below, students often have to leave school to fetch water from creeks and the current school is too small. Classrooms are spilling out onto the veranda because teachers have nowhere else to teach. Thanks to the IC 21/SfS School Building Program, we are in the porcess of building new classrooms, latrines and a water well.
