Hundreds of schoolbooks donated by kentnews.co.uk readers have finally been delivered to the village of Kent in Sierra Leone.
KoS editor Bernard Ginns took the books in person to the picturesque fishing village on the tip of the West African country’s western peninsular.
He formally presented the books in a special ceremony attended by pupils, teachers, and villagers on Friday.
Readers donated one tonne of books earlier this year. Freight exporter Robert Claire & Co, of south east London, shipped the books free of charge to Sierra Leone.
Kent’s city chairman Samuel Massah said he had a message for our readers.
He said: “We are giving them great, great, great praise and thank you because we were not expecting this, but they have donated these books for our children.
“We must make sure that they reach down to the children to develop their educational background.”
Ginns was also due to visit the Milton Margai School for Blind, in the capital Freetown, on Saturday.
The school’s choir is to tour the UK later this summer and this newspaper is organising the opening concert at Canterbury Cathedral on July 30.
Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Sierra Leone last month. The British government is spending tens of millions on pounds each year assisting the nation’s rebuilding programmes following the brutal rebel war.
Readers are invited to the concert at Canterbury Cathedral.
To obtain tickets, write with your name, address, a stamped addressed envelope and a note stating how many tickets you would like, to Bernard Ginns, Editor, Kent on Sunday, Apple Barn, Smeeth, Hythe Road, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SR.
People may also pick up tickets from the office.
POSTED: 15/06/2007 15:29:54
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