By sulaiman.sesay@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In pursuit of catalysing transformational change in Sierra Leone, the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) extended a helping hand to Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by donating institutional strengthening tools on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
The ceremonial handover and signing of the donation certificate were held at LAC’s Villa, Riverside Drive, Brookfields, in Freetown. Several notable institutions benefited from this philanthropic gesture, including the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Ministry of Water Resources, Freetown City Council (FCC), National Youth Commission, National Commission for Persons with Disability, National Protected Area Authority, and the National Disaster Management Agency.
Each recipient institution received tools tailored to their specific needs. For instance, FCC was bestowed with four tricycles, while CARITAS Sierra Leone and various Government Ministries and Agencies received a range of equipment, including computers, tablets, hard drives, printers, cameras, and more. The National Protected Area Authority received protective gear to support their operational efforts, among other contributions.
Jeanne Ella Andrianambinina, Country Representative for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), disclosed that these donated items were made possible through CRS funds. She emphasized CRS’s commitment to providing support that can nurture sustainable institutions capable of driving transformative change in Sierra Leone. Andrianambinina noted that over the past sixty years, CRS has actively contributed to the country’s development in areas such as education and agricultural infrastructure and this year, the organization will celebrate its sixtieth anniversary in Sierra Leone.
She underlined the importance of these donated tools and assets in enhancing institutional operations and facilitating effective service delivery throughout the country. Andrianambinina pledged CRS’s continued collaboration with local partners to promote sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
Alicious Kamara, Director of CARITAS Sierra Leone, expressed his appreciation for the donation and highlighted its potential to significantly impact the lives of the people served by his organization.
Receiving the tools on behalf of his ministry, Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Reverend Dr Jonathan Titus Williams, assured that these items would be used judiciously. He encouraged other beneficiaries to follow suit and noted that these resources would help bridge the resource gap, particularly at a time when the country’s resources are limited. He extended his gratitude to CRS for their initial support, which played a role in shaping certain clusters within the country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP).
Peter Abdul Kamara, Deputy Chief Administrator of the Freetown City Council (FCC), commended CRS as a strong partner to the Government of Sierra Leone, emphasizing CRS’s commitment to seeing the government fulfil its mandate. Kamara appreciated CRS for their support in the Council’s core mandate, particularly in sanitation. He assured that the tricycles would be put to their intended use.
Other beneficiaries echoed similar sentiments and pledged to utilize the donated tools for their intended purposes. SKS/18/9/2023
