Thursday, February 3, 2011

OUR ALMA MATER: ST. JOSEPH'S SECONDARY SCHOOL MAKENI

Alia Sheriff visited our Alma Mater, St. Joseph's Secondary School Makeni. A renowned Secondary School for Girls in Northern Sierra Leone.  Her pictures sparked interest and brought back a lot of memories to the Old Girls both at home and in the Diaspora.  It has been in the thoughts of many Old Girls (COGAM Members) to support our school and to provide an excellent educational environment for the current student. Even though other Old Girls have been providing support to the school in their own little ways, these pictures instigated the need for us to work together for the common goal of our Alma Mater.

Alia Sheriff“Am really happy that this picture brings back a whole lot of memories of a place that shaped us to be what we are today. I hope we can all come together as one and help in whatever way we can to continue the legency of Convent Makeni...”

SOME REFLEXTIONS FROM COGAM MEMBERS
  • Florence Seisay: “Oh my God, my heart is drawn again today to this institution of great learning. The best in the world…”
  • Fatmata Sheriffe Lewally: “omg . Wow school of discipline. Was glad to be part of its product...”
  • Cecilia Amonoo Richards:  “This is the place where our future was shaped. A wonderful school. Proud to be an old student of SJSS...”
  • Hawa Daramy:  “I am so proud of this building because without this structure I will not be able to stand strong and I will remain strong with a deep and profound belief in myself...”
  • Maria Mabinty Kamara: “This is where the seeds were sown, where we were prepared to be people of today! In this noble institution, we were trained to face today’s brave new world that's full of joy and sorrows. We are thankful for our continued devotion to the cause of liberty that is geared towards improving humanity! Kudos to our gallant teachers, including the St. Joseph’s Sisters of Cluny! But hey, we have a lot to give back to that school...”
  • Fatmata Fatima Sesay: “That sign post is indeed" rickety" quoting Maria even though it has brought forth bright and hardworking girls like us. The war did not help the school either.  In my strong opinion what some of us are glorifying is in the past. What can we all do to bring the school up to better standards? How many of our girls are making it to university/colleges? How equipped are our science labs, library ... Is the school in the computer age or still using type writers? How qualified and committed are the teachers? We need to ask ourselves a lot of questions to help the school “sow the right seeds…"
  • Amie Pejcic: “…how about a contribution for some computers and lab stuff, even if it’s one or two for now. With time it can improve. Were there’s a will there is a way...”
  • Sunkarie Kamara Kabba: “Thanks guys, I have been monitoring your mails and suggestions as to how together we can make our alma mata a conducive learning environment for our girls. I have been in close contact with the Ag principal of the school Sr. Amala Ranee who has explained to me the prevailing situation in the school. I have seen all these brilliant ideas of moving into the computer age, getting trained and qualified teachers (a problem that the state is still grappling with), provision of teaching, learning materials.... These are all brilliant ideas but let’s start by addressing the felt needs of the school as stated by the Ag. Principal as follows:
1.   Lack of safe drinking water in the school.  This can be address by getting a hand pump well with a submissive pump and a generator to pump the water in to the tank.  The school also requires drinking buckets and cups for each class and the staff room.
2.   Part of the school fence is so low (i.e. around the field area) that the neighbors are now using the school campus as a refuse dump … you can imagine what an unfriendly school environment that is.......  Let’s think globally and act locally with the zeal and enthusiasm; we will make a difference for our girls…. Let’s give this a thought. Kind regards. Sunkarie Kamara Kabba, Head Girl 1988/87…”
  • Clara Fatmata Korma“Hi ladies, thanks for your brilliant ideas, but where do we start? Who will take the bull by the horn? Who is ready to start the ball rolling? …. Count on me always, the doors are open…”
  • Mary Hawa Turay:  "Greetings from Canada and thank you all for the facebook posting and comments about our beloved School SJSS. With all that we have said, it is time for us to take action. I will suggest that we each make a pelage to donate any amount that we can afford before Charismas 2010 to support our school.  We already have 25 wonderful ladies that have responded to this facebook posting and have confirmed that SJSSM has contributed to what we are today.  This is a good group to start with and it is time for us to give back to our school….  I also agree with Sunkarie Kamara Kabba’s suggestions that we ask the current principals to identify the most pressing needs for the school rather than us making the decision for them..."
MANY THANKS TO THE CLUNY SISTERS
We are very grateful to the Catholic Church especially to the Sisters of St. Joseph's of Cluny for establishing this institution in the 1962 that have educated "The Girl Child" in Northern Sierra Leone from diverse social backgrounds and religions.  We were all given the opportunities to excel beyond our comfort zone and aspire to our best abilities.  Now that we are ripping the benifits from the seeds that were sown, it is time for us to take the time to look back and support this institution.
 
TO COGAM MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
As we are preparing to celebrate our school's 50th Anniversary in 2012, we call on all COGAM Old Girls and their spouses, partners, friends and families to step up and help us raise funds to  refurbish the school structures and to enhance the educational capacity of the school. Let us demonstrate our commitments to our school beyond wards.  We are asking you all to join hands to raise funds, use your time and talents to assist with the organizing and planning of our 50th Anniversary.  Do something for the glory of our school.  After our Anniversary, we plan to continue to support our ALMA MATER.  So invite your friends, husbands, partners and families to support our course.


 Stay connected and send your updates to sjssmakeni50@gmail.com
By:  Mary Hawa Turay