School Feeding Program in Sierra Leone

Mokpangumba
Child’s Story

BTA
Report May 2012

Regina Samukah

Regina Samukah is eight years old and in Nursery 3 at
Mallory Jansen Primary School Mokpangumba. Regina’s story is a sad one. Her
mother was sick during pregnancy. When he mother gave birth to Regina, she
became seriously sick which resulted in her mental disturbance.

Regina did not enjoy her childhood with her biological
mother. Another mother took care of her for two years until her mother
recovered from her sickness. The grandmother of Regina thought it fit that
Regina attend school in their village since there was a COTN school there.
There was little for them to eat at home. Regina was poorly malnourished at the
time they took her to school.

With the school feeding program of BTA, Regina always gets
her one meal in school during lunch. She started looking healthier because of
the nourishing food she gets from school. She comes to school every day and is
very conscious to learn and will attend church service every Sunday with her
friends. Her teacher Mr. Joseph Foday, says Regina is a promising girl if her
parents continue to encourage her.

The other sad part of Regina’s life is that her father who
was a fisherman died last year because of a severe cold that attacked him.
Regina’s mother used to visit the school where Regina attends. She is very
appreciative that her daughter is doing well in health and also improving in
her learning. She thanks God for the blessing that God is providing for her
daughter in their village.

Augustine Musa

Augustine Musa is a nine year old boy who is in class two in
Mokpangumba COTN school. He lives in a village three miles off from Ngolala. He
is one of the first members of the COTN Mokpangumba school. When Augustine was
born, his father died in their village. Life for his mother was hard as now she
could not take care of her boy.

Augustine suffered from malnutrition for three months. He
was taken to Mattru Jong hospital for treatment where they stayed for some
time. When they were discharged from the hospital, his mother brought him back
to the village. In that village, there was the COTN school so his mother
enrolled him in school.

Though Augustine was not too healthy, he was willing to go
to school. In that school there was the BTA food program. Augustine was very
happy among his friends in school because he will join them to eat the good
nourishing food that is provided by the school feeding program. Today,
Augustine is regular in school and always attends church services in the COTN
church. He has grown physically and mentally. He is a promising child in this
village. This shows that the feeding program helping children to learn and has
saved them from sickness and malnutrition. Augustine is always thankful to God.

Jenneh Bangura

Little Jenneh Bangura is seven years of age. She is in
Nursery 3 in the Mokpangumba COTN school. As with many children all over the
world, Jenneh lost her biological father last year. Jenneh’s mother is a widow
and has little to provide her children with.

Jenneh got seriously sick during her childhood and they
admitted her to a mission hospital for one month. She was malnourished when
they returned home. One day her mother decided to take her to school as she saw
the other children attending school. It was difficult for Jenneh to adjust to
school and she would always cry when her mother left.

Among other things, the provision of BTA in the Mokpangumba
school has helped Jenneh to enjoy school and she no longer cries. She always
comes to school with her plate and spoon ready. She gets her BTA meal and feels
very good. She is not regular in school and growing well. She can recite memory
verses, rhymes, numbers, and the alphabet. This shows that Jenneh is learning
and is receiving a quality education. She is also spiritually growing and
attends church every Sunday.

According to her mother, she says she is very excited
because her daughter is doing well in her physical growth. She is thankful to
God and the teachers for helping Jenneh.