News

The David School is doing a great job in Sierra Leone. It is building a community of great minds.

Just as Osman, I, amongst many others, have benefited from the work that the school is doing.

I am a teacher at the school. I started teaching in 2014, just after leaving High School. I did not go to university that year because my parents could not afford the fees.

After teaching as a volunteer for about a year, the school paid for my university education at the University of Sierra Leone. I obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree in 2019. As if that was not enough, the school paid my fees and all extra charges to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Again, I graduated in 2021.

After completing my graduate certificate in Education, again, graciously, the school paid my fees for my year at the Sierra Leone Law School. I took the Bar exams in September 2021 and graduated with one of the best results that year. I was called to the Sierra Leone Bar in January 2022.

I have practiced as a Barrister and Solicitor for almost three years now. I continue to teach at the school as a part time teacher.

My story of how the David School has impacted my life is just one of many.

Mr. David Wallwork, Catherine and the rest of the team are doing an incredible job.

September 2024

The senior pupils who play in a mixed team representing the school and MIle 36 Communnity show-off their new kit, donated by Easington Sports FC, Banbury

The picture is taken at a training session. They are soon to play in a tournament and believe this new team outfit will make them play better!!!

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to tell you that I have been made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours List published today.

I regard this as recognition of the massive effort made by a large team of wonderful people over a number of years.

The citation reads ‘For services to Education in Sierra Leone.

Thank you for your support.

Very best wishes

David

New pictures are here

Catherine Thomas carrying out a regular screening session at the school.

The next picture shows one of the boys, Mamadu, with his new specs. He is one of the children checked and sent to the eye clinic in Kissy.

After starting as just a primary school in 2008, and then building and opening a secondary department in 2011, the David School has now opened a Senior Secondary Academy. The school now has over 600 students registered, and they are taught in two shifts: primary and secondary classes are taught until 2.00pm, and then the Academy classes take over.

See Messenger No 51 for the rest of the story (press here)

Peterborough Telegraph Rotary Corner article dated 15th December 2022

Former Ramsey school teacher and Rotarian David Wallwork, upon retirement, along with his wife Janet, decided to use his educational experience to help build a school in rural Sierra Leone, 50 miles from the capital Freetown. Over the past decade, with the support of many friends and Rotary clubs, the school has blossomed and now provides quality education for over 300 children! Due to many children desperately needing to earn money for themselves and their families, in order to purchase food, they have to give up their education. This, coupled with many girls getting married at a very young age, means that less than 50% of children complete their secondary education. In fact 36% don’t even complete their primary education (Unicef). Therefore, The David School is helping to redress this. (For futher details please see www.thedavidschool.org.uk)

On one of the hottest days of the year, the current President of the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Marcus Horrell, organised a special fund-raising garden party at his home for over 100 guests. A lovely lunch was provided along with a raffle and approximately £3,000 was raised, to be divided between The David School’s work in Sierra Leone and the local Macmillan Cancer Care here in Peterborough. A recent presentation of the cheques was made at the Holiday Inn Hotel, on one of the wettest days of the year. This was in addition to ongoing support from Peterborough Rotary Club for Sue Ryder, following a wonderful golf day in May.

Over 30 years ago in 1991 the Robert Horrell Wellbeing Centre in the grounds of Peterborough City Hospital was established. The centre provides a safe, supportive and caring envirionment for both patients and carers. The multi-professional team provide a range of treatment, advice and support stretagies for patients who are living with cancer or other progressive illnesses.

1.3 million Rotarians in over 200 countries in the world help to support important projects, locally, nationally and internationally, giving practical support through fund-raising projects like this. Why not consider joining a local Rotary club and make a difference?

By Rev Clive Doubleday JP BA

Rotary Club of Peterborough Ortons

The David School, Sierra Leone

Thank you for supporting this Garden Party Lunch. The amount raised was £2400 to be shared between Macmillan Cancer Care and The David School.

Our school is located in a rural area about fifty miles from the capital Freetown which is on the ocean. We work with members of a tribe called Temne who have their own language. Our village communities are subsistence farmers and are very poor. Families tend to be large.

We have educated youngsters since 2008 with an annual intake of around fifty infants. We have successes. challenges and disappointments, some of which we would like to share today.

All exams are in English and our children perform very well at 11+ and 14+ with the challenge of 16+ being a priority. Employment means moving away from the rural area to larger towns which means we lose contact with most students.

All our teachers are recruited locally and some are former pupils of the school. This is a great bonus in knowledge and relationship’s with the villagers. All our teachers are qualified, some up to graduate level.

We provide more than basic education and would like to outline a few other developments.

Keeping girls in school has been a major challenge for several years and we no longer lose many girls to early marriage. Provision of sanitary wear, guidance, raising the profile of female role models and increasing the number of female teachers have led to great success.

Special cases help to illustrate our priorities and describe how some of our donated money is spent.

Isatu Bangura is a blind girl from one of our villages, discovered in a back room aged around seven and now aged seventeen aiming for a place in university.

Mohamed had a progressive infection and was in danger of losing his leg.

Mother is herself a polio victim with several other children. Father is a subsistence farmer. The charity has provided funds for surgery, treatment and accommodation. Patients in hospital are not fed which creates additional demands. The hospital that he was in is three hours drive away from his family. The good news is that the worst scenario for him will be a lifelong limp. Bright boy now ready to start Year 4.

Sara, a boy, achieved the highest mark in 14+ exams yet at the same time lost his father, his last living relative. The charity has supported him and other orphan pupils to allow them to continue their studies. Food is provided for foster carers and we can report that this provision has been a great success.

In addition to providing basic education, these are just a few of things that have been done to enhance the lives of some of our pupils. Without your generous help and support none of this would be possible. We are proud to say that every penny raised is spent for the good of the young people in the school. Every volunteer is self- funded and we have no charity expenses.

Thank you all so much, enjoy your lunch and together we are making a massive difference to the lives of our severely disadvantaged children.