School - LIVE DOCUMENT
This document details what has happened since the construction finished for the school. If you want to read about why the school was built, click here, and if you want to learn about the construction of the school, click here.
How the School Grew in 2024
The Board Visits the Newly Built School
In February 2024 the board of directors visited Sembehun Tabema for the first time in almost 2 years. This was a special visit for a number of reasons; one being that we brought some of our most engaged donors to come see the grand opening of the school we all worked so hard on. Secondly because it was the first time we traveled to see a project we had completed from start to finish. Not only was this school completed, it was built in one of the most remote areas of the whole country. Almost 10% of the building price was spent on constructing the road to GET to the village. I don’t think we could have chosen a more remote location. Not only was location a strain, but we decided to build the largest government run elementary school in Sierra Leone as well. The main structure is over 7,000 sq feet, not including the 4 room living quarters for teachers.
Needless to say, all of the challenges throughout the year paled in comparison to the joy and spark of hope this community felt now. This was the first time having real education for this village.
The School Gets New Upgrades
Throughout the year, the school filled with students. In March 2024, just 30 days after school opening, only 30 children had been enrolled in school. As the year progressed, we continued upgrading the infrastructure on the school grounds. A fence and a farm were built around the school to close off the grounds.
And 200 desks and benches were built for the children. The new upgrades encouraged more students to join school. By November, 150 children were enrolled in school, and more students were trickling in weekly.
In November, a solar company from Florida partnered with us and traveled to Sierra Leone to install a solar system on the school. They installed 5 panels and 2 batteries, ensuring a large bank of energy was being supplied and stored to the school at all times. Direct Solar also installed a smart TV, lightbulbs, and fans into each classroom. This influx of technology allowed the teachers and students to have proper lighting, comfortable air temperatures, and more access to information on a daily basis. Including videos and educational movies we downloaded onto a flashdrive. This school is now the first building with electricity for over 10 miles. Lightbulbs run at night, allowing children to study under the lights. There is no light accessibility after sun down aside from this school.
2025 To Present Day
The long term plan with the creation of the farm is to develop a school lunch program for the children to benefit from. Beginning in 2025, the GTGR farm staff will visit the school on a weekly basis to engage in practical and theoretical agriculture training for the children. In these visits, we will perform garden work with the children so they learn how to grow their own food. All the yields on this farm will be stored at the school, and used for the school lunch program.
