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 The Centre for Development and Peace Education (CD Peace) in Sierra Leone is the recipient of a 40’ Container sent by Logan MacGillivray and supported by Green Solutions. Logan, a 10 year old student from Nova Scotia learned of the plight of students in Sierra Leone and galvanized community support for this project. This container was destined to impact 10 schools in 8 villages. It arrived in August with distribution to communities occurring over a 3 week period.
Sierra Leone is a Western African country endowed with abundant natural resources. Yet since the 1990s the UN has rated the country as one of the world's most underdeveloped countries. From 1991 - 2002, the country experienced one of the most violent conflicts in West Africa in recent times.
Over fifty thousand people were killed, half a million lived as refugees and approximately two million were internally displaced. Rural and urban infrastructure was destroyed. The fragile peace environment in West Africa in recent decades has hindered the region's ability to realize its socio-economic, cultural and political potentials. Educational opportunities are severely limited. Schools lack even the simplest of resources: water; pens; paper; books; teachers. Some schools do not have walls and others have only dirt floors which double as the actual writing medium for students.
This project occurred within the Chiefdoms of Mapaki and Gbonkelenkeh; 2 of the poorest areas in Sierra Leone The projects were officially sanctioned by Paramount Chiefs. (The country of Sierra Leone is divided into traditional Chiefdoms and governed by Paramount Chiefs).
The villages of Mayagba; Mapaki; Maso; Makamray: Makankorie: Mathamp; Yele and Moria were each significantly impacted by this project. The container was FILLED with furniture; school supplies; sporting equipment; clothing: bicycles; tools; computers and books. All product was identified by the communities working in conjunction with CD Peace in advance of this shipment. A cornerstone to the work of CD Peace is community involvement long term; ownership of projects and Participatory Project Planning.
A minimum of 2 additional containers have been identified for future projects. Green Solutions will be providing product for a residential school and administration project to allow CD Peace to expand it’s work in Sierra Leone.
Additionally, schools in the above named districts will be further supported. Schools where children sit and write in and on dirt floors with no furniture / nor support materials will be immediately addressed with these next containers.
CD Peace is a Canadian based organization providing educational support in the areas of sustainable; community and peaceful development. CD Peace also works to partner Canadian schools with schools in Sierra Leone to bring about exchange and global awareness amongst students. Further programming is offered in youth; women and leadership programming; micro financing; indigenous support; rural health clinics and educational agricultural rural practices.
CD Peace will provide essential support and supplies to one of the neediest countries on earth. Co- Founders, Mark and Mary Turray express immense gratitude for this partnered support from Logan MacGillivray and Green Solutions. This initiative will impact upon hundreds of lives giving children an opportunity to be educated that otherwise would not have been possible.
Green Solution’s Product for this container and for these schools was generously provided by RBC Royal Bank of Canada and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. Both corporations clearly demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility at the highest levels of policy and process.
Green Solutions is genuinely honoured to have worked and to continuing working on this project. Green Solutions generously thanks our corporate and project partners. This will impact many lives for many years to come.
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