Monday, April 4, 2011

“THE FORCES THAT UNITE US ARE STRONGER THAN THOSE THAT DIVID US”

Anne Marie Javouhey
Founder of St. Joseph's
Sisters of Cluny
The Cluny sisters established St. Joseph’s Secondary School Makeni (SJSSM) about 50 years ago, as an institution to educate the ‘Girl Child’ in Sierra Leone. Although a Christina/Catholic Institution, girls from different religions, regions, tribes and social statures are enrolled each year in this institution.  This institution have nurtured thousands of girls to help them realize their talents, skills and abilities to become successful and confident women in a society where dating back to the 60s girls were especially vulnerable populations and had much less privileges and access to acquire education. SJSSM Girls are trained: “with the understanding that they are stronger when united”.  



For the past 50 years in which the Cluny sisters have run this institution, SJSSM has been one of the top Secondary School for Girls in the country.  But with the effect of the 11 years of war in the country which have lead to many of the Missionaries to flee the country, the school is now left in the hand of Sierra Leoneans.

Today, thousands of Convent Old Girls of Makeni (COGAM) are thriving at home and in the Diaspora. We want to remind you all that, it is the responsibility of every COGAM Members to assist in the continued development of the school.  To further our objective and fulfill our mandate, despite trying times we are continuing to build everlasting relationships with students and families who are portraying a positive image of our school locally and abroad to advance our mission.   COGAM will also like to acknowledge some of our friends and members who are assisting in different ways to help us impliment ourschool projects.

 DR. MICHAEL KARGBO VISITED OUR ALMA MATER

Dr. Michael Kargbo
We thank Dr. Michael Kargbo, an Old Boy from our Brother School St. Francis Secondary School, for visiting our Alma Mater on November 3, 2010.  Dr. Kargbo met with Mrs. Cecelia Barrie the Principal of the Senior Secondary School and COGAM member and with Sunkarie Kamara Kabba a COGAM member, to continue the discussion and even took some time for a few photos.

Update from Dr. Kargbo:
“Please take note: 2012 marks the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of your school. Mrs. Barrie is calling on you all to work towards making it a memorable one.  The situation is not as grim as that depicted by the picture you shared but it is indeed symptomatic of the problems currently faced by Government-supported schools in Sierra Leone. The good news is that your school has been able to phase-out the two shift system imposed by the previous government in the immediate aftermaths of the war…”

Basics Updates:
Board Chairman: Monsignor Gabriel Koroma
Senior Secondary School Principal: Mrs. Cecilia Barrie
Junior Secondary School Principal: Sr. Amalla
Convent Old Girls Association (national) President: Mrs. Margaret Daboh

School Problems:
1. Sitting Accommodation
2. Increase in dropouts due to school fees
3. Electrification of the school – need for a generator
4. Lack of Computers for the administration and students
5. Existing Water well can no longer adequately serve the school
6. Need to reconstruct the front and back fencing of the school
7. Extension of the playing field
8. Need for a physics lab and teachers (currently there is no physics and so students wishing to offer physics have to go elsewhere)
 
View Photos of Dr. Michael Kargbo
Now GOGAM members, this is where we stand in terms of needs for the school.

THE DEBATE FOR DEVELOPING THE SCHOOL CONTINUES

With reference to our blog posted on Thursday, February 03, 2011  titled “Our Alma Mater: St. Joseph’s Secondary School Makeni”, COGAM Members agreed to setup a bank account were in we can make donations to address the needs of the school.

Here are some suggestions for opening the Bank Account and the way forward
·    We need to setup a temporally financial committee so that we can open the Bank Account in November 2010
·    Erect a new school sigh post so we will need to get the cost as soon as possible
·    Set up a mailing listserv because not all members both at home and in the Diaspora are on facebook
·    Set up a date for a meeting at Makeni this December. If the meeting takes place,

These suggestions were made by COGAM members through Face Book.  Our only means of communication at the time.

OUR ABLE MEMBERS IN SIERRA LEONE

Sunkarie Kamara
Kabba
We thank our COGAM members at home for facilitating the process.  Sunkarie Kamara Kabba contacted COGAM members like Mrs. Adama Kanu, Mrs. Isatu Fofanah and others in Makeni.  The group scheduled a meeting with Mrs. Cecelia Barrie to discourse the following:

  • The issue of reactivating COGAM Makeni Branch
  • The issue of opening a local Bank account
  • A radio discussion to inform all locally based Old girls about COGAM reactivation
Update from Sunkarie on November 15, 2010
“Hi guys, Just a quick update here. The meeting with respect to getting a mandate to open a bank account went on as planned and the mandate secured. I am now working on the mandate. When this is complete it will go for signature to Mrs. Cecilia Barrie (Principal SSS), Mrs. Isatu Fofanah (Deputy mayor Makeni City Council) and myself. It has been tentatively agreed that I be the principal signatory until we get things sorted out…

·   With respect to the sign post, the fabrication will cost Le. 400,000 whilst the printing will cost Le 200,000. Erection will cost Le 70,000.
·   The radio discussion program and general meeting still stands at 18th and 19th November respectively.

Hope we will be able to mobilize more members at local level.  Please continue to send your comments, advice suggestions to help us rekindle this course…”

Update from Sunkarie on November 19, 2010
“… we had a very successful radio discussion program last night. Other panelist failed to show up because of one reason or the other; however myself, Mrs. Barrie and Swad Koroma handled it well.

·    Issues around the reactivation of the Association was high on the agenda
·    A clarion call for all who attended the school to participate in the association was also dealt with, references were made to women of substance that are products of the school in positions of trust
·    The determination by old girls in the Diaspora and the great work been done by the Cluny Sisters to abolish the two shift system by constructing school buildings for the JSS were all amongst the issues discussed
·    Finally, we thank the Cluny Sisters for their support to the girl child education which has made all of us what we are today and encourage all old girls that it’s time to pay back. The school needs our support in addition to what has already been done.
·    The Golden Jubilee issue was also highlighted and planning of activities around this celebration greatly hinges on the turnout for the meetings scheduled

We are very democratic and would like to hear each and every member’s voice. A maiden meeting has been scheduled for today, 19/11/10 at the school compound.  I succeeded in opening the bank account at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank- Makeni Branch…”

This is just a wonderful update.  Thank you Sunkarie.

ACTION FROM COGAM MEMBERS

This progressive and positive update form home has fueled motivation form members and opened the hearts of some to make pledges to the new account.  We were able to raise enough money to take upon our first project the erection of the new school Sign Post.  We continue to ask for the support of COGAM members and friends towards the development of our Alma Mater.
 
We Need to Rebuild Our School

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