Maada Bio
By Joseph Lamin Kamara
Former opposition presidential candidate has launched an education support fund for all children who have lost or will lose their parents to the Ebola disease in the country.
At the ceremony held yesterday at SLAJ headquarters in Freetown, Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio said “The Education Support Fund for Ebola Orphans” was formed after he and his wife considered that the outbreak would leave behind children who would need homes, clothes, food, medicines and support for education.
“My wife, Fatima, and I were thinking of poor children who cannot afford basic education, health care and food and other basic essentials of life,” he explained, adding that the foundation had already been registered in London on May 30 this year just days after the outbreak was first recorded in the country.
“The Fund will provide educational needs for children between six and 18 years whose benefactors have died of the Ebola virus,” the former military man said. He added that “the package will include uniform, shoes, books and tuition for children".
He said his "Bio and Fatima Foundation" would provide the initial seed money of Le 25 million into the education fund.
As part of his own contribution to the support fund, Senesie Fawundu, an MP from Pujehun District, asked Bio to send four underprivileged girls to the Kate Magregrel Secondary School in Bo. He said his family had established the school for girls from underprivileged backgrounds.
The MP said they had since provided scholarships and other educational support for the girls.
Former minister of education Dr. Alpha Tejan Wurie, lauded Bio’s efforts, saying “Bio is a leader in crisis, not a leader in pleasure.” He warned that the country should not be consistently reliant on the international community, adding “we should stop believing that we cannot.”
Chairman for Health for All Coalition, a civil society grouping, thanked the Bio calling him “a nationalist.” Charles Mambu said “the foundation would not have come at a better time than this,” and urged Sierra Leoneans “not to forget the good work.” He stressed that “Sierra Leoneans seem to forget good people and their works particularly in times of politics.”
The fund will be managed by the Board of the Foundation and a Special Management Committee comprising teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders with the former presidential running-mate, Dr Kadie Sesay as the contact person with a grand launch holding after the Ebola crisis.
(C) Politico 28/08/14
