Miss Sankoh and Dep Min of children's affairs, MD Atilla
A class five pupil, who turned 10 on 22 November, chose to celebrate her birthday with children many of whom have lost either or both their parents to Ebola.
Aminata Benk Sankoh spent money for her natal day to buy food items, clothes and toiletries for 36 children at the Heaven’s Home orphanage at Waterloo.
The daughter of former Concord Times editor now working with the UN in Liberia, on Saturday told the kids aged between two and 14 years that her decision to celebrate with them was borne out of humility.
“I came here to share the little I have with you not because my parents are wealthy but because I love kids and feel so touched by the situation you now find yourself in,” she said, adding that she hoped the gift would help to alleviate the problems at the home.
The package included seven bags of 50kg rice, bales of used clothing, hundreds of bundles of pure water, milk, sugar, laundry and bathing soap.
Her mother, Sia Kabia said she was proud of her daughter, a sentiment also expressed by her father.
Speaking to Politico from Monrovia, Mr Sankoh said “the young philanthropist, herself, is a gift from God not only to us but the whole of society.”
Hannah Hassan Gbassay Kanu, who runs the small but well-kept home, said the occasion had the potential to open up many opportunities for them.
She thanked the ministry of children’s affairs, represented by the some officials and the deputy minister, Mustapha Bai Atilla who said he was honoured to have been part of that celebration and announced that they could find ways to draw attention to the kids, some of whom had been orphaned by Ebola.
© Politico 25/11/14
