Blama Preschool Project

Building a Preschool for Blama’s Youngest Children

Thank you!

——————————————————————————————————————————–

You may contribute to Blama Preschool Project, directly through Sherbro Foundation, a 501c3 foundation. Just click the Donate button below, which will take you to the Sherbro Foundation donation page.

Under “special instructions to seller”, please enter, “Blama Preschool Project“

This project, as proposed by Parish Priest, Father Fatorma Augustine Combey in 2008, aims to build a 21st Century African preschool at the Holy Rosary Primary School in Blama, a town in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone.  Faith Sorenson Lester (then Faith Adamson) served in Blama as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1973-75. Faith’s fundraising efforts over the past 10 years, a grant from Friends of Sierra Leone (FOSL), as well as the Blama community have supported the construction of our preschool.

Thanks to the recent donations of the supporters of Blama Preschool Project, we have sent the funds to complete the painting and electrical work needed to have the school ready in time for the

Official Opening Celebration on March 16, 2019!   

March 11 – 21, 2019, Faith Lester will be in Sierra Leone to attend the celebration, this time with her daughter, Kate Adamson, her traveling companion.

Below: Center for Spiritual Living of Greater Cincinnati Youth Education Class Fundraising Project 

In April and May, 2018, the Youth Education Class of Center for Spiritual Living engaged in a fundraising activity, in which they raised funds to help with the tiling of the classrooms and outdoor verandah. Our thanks to the CSL community and also to DoTerra’s Healing  Hands program, for their matching grant! Together, we raised $3,700!

Above: When they received the funds from CSL in June, they were able to tile the classrooms.  At that time, the exterior walls had not been painted, only whitewashed.

  On January 23 – 27, 2017,  I visited Blama for the third time since my Peace Corps days. The most exciting sight was the eager children, already attending preschool in their partially finished building! We still need funds for painting, inside and out .–  Faith Lester

Blama Preschool is becoming a place where the youngest students in Blama are being introduced to the joys of learning. Teachers are attending classes and are committed to using teaching methods, proven to be the best for new learners. They are playing learning games in a clean, stimulating atmosphere, instructed by caring, kind and enthusiastic teachers.

A generous contribution from the Chief and his wife.

Fr. Combey recognized Paramount Chief Benya and his wife for their generous donation towards the completion of the construction of Blama Preschool. Their 10,000,000 Leones gift, in today’s exchange rate, equals approximately $1,400 USD.

Fr. Combey’s report on the recent donation, given to Blama Preschool:‘ On the 3rd March, 2017, the Paramount Chief of Small-Bo chiefdom-P.C. Dheffie Benya and his wife, Madam Joan Benya, donated the sum of Le. 10,000,000 ($1,400) towards the construction of the  Holy Rosary Pre-school, Blama, in memory of  their late daughter, Dheffina Benya. This money was donated to Fr. Combey, the Parish Priest and Manager of schools in the presence of some of the elders in Blama and the Catholic Church community of Blama. Fr. Combey thanked the Chief Benya and his wife, Joan, for their generous donation, recognising that their generous donation was the highest from the home community since this project was initiated over five years ago now. Our sincere thanks to friends, both at home and abroad, who are generously donating to see the completion of this preschool for the present and future children of Blama.

THE SALONE PEP CLUB of Mason Intermediate School

(Salone is the Krio language word for Sierra Leone. P E P = Peace Education Project)

From 2009 through 2013, The Salone PEP Club was actively raising funds, communicating with pen pals, learning about African music, languages, food, recording songs along with Nigerian performer, Baoku Moses. Their CD is called, “Foh Salone”.

 

In 2009, a Blama contractor was hired to create a floor plan for Blama Preschool. Construction proceeded from 2010 – 2012, while Salone PEP Club raised funds to begin construction.

2013 – 2014 –  After my retirement as a Mason City Schools music teacher, and thus the ending of Salone PEP Club, construction was halted, due to lack of funds, combined with the Ebola epidemic. – Faith Lester

THE DREAM AND THE PROMISE OF THE PRESCHOOL REMAINED IN OUR HEARTS THROUGHOUT THIS TIME.

Fundraising commenced, as of 2014 when a singing class at the Center For Spiritual Living of Greater Cincinnati donated tuition funds to the project. After that, several generous individual donations came in and they were able to continue with the construction

In 2014, construction re-started. The structure was raised to wall height.

By the beginning of 2015, they had erected the frame for the roof and built the veranda, finally ready for the zinc roofing.  We’re extremely grateful for the generous donations from friends of the project here in Cincinnati, as well as the fundraising work of the Catholic Women’s Association of Blama and Youth Association of Blama.

By March 2015 the aluminum roof was in place, just in time to protect the interior from the rainy season.

Holiday Campaign, 2015 – Donations began to pour in, in the form of Christmas gifts/donations. After we sent out a mailing, requesting contributions, $2,700 was raised by December 25, 2015. Thank you to our generous donors! Thank you to my husband, George Lester and my friend (my former husband), Barry Adamson, for joining me in organizing the holiday campaign. A great success! – Faith Lester

Friends of Sierra Leone Grant – In January 2016, we were awarded a grant in the amount of $3000, after applying for said grant in November 2015. Thank you to Peggy Murrah, President of FOSL, the FOSL Grant Committee, as well as the many contributors to FOSL. Thank you to George Lester, Barry Adamson, and Arlene Golembiewski for joining us in the application process, as board members of Blama Preschool Project.

On October 4, 2016 Preschool children began attending classes in the partially completed building. Dirt floors, unpainted walls and the unplastered exterior did not hinder their attendance.  The school officials decided to allow 100 children to begin instruction. Even though there is still much to do to finish the school, the main classroom is now safe enough for the children to begin their education. And here they are:

“During my January 2017 trip with Arlene Golembiewski, I visited both her project in Rotifunk and my project in Blama. It was a thrill to see the youngest children of Blama, attending preschool after these past 8 years of our dreaming, praying and fundraising to make that possible! Thank you for your continued prayers, donations, and holding the vision of quality preschool education for the children of Blama. 

I was pleased to deliver the donations from members of Threshold Singers of Cincinnati. The children were thrilled to receive the donated books, paper, scissors, pencils and crayons. 

I so enjoyed meeting the teachers and children now involved with the preschool. Even though they still have a dirt floor, unpainted walls and the exterior is unfinished, they are so excited to be in the school, beginning their preschool education.

It is our hope that a Peace Corps Volunteer will be sent to help develop the curriculum and provide guidance in preschool teaching methods. The request has been made and we await word that Peace Corps has found the perfect person for our school!” — Faith Lester

The preschool teachers and the children are so grateful for your donations to complete their school building.

 We invite you to join us in making this dream a reality by making a donation today!

GO TO BEGINNING OF PAGE TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION.