GEED Foundation Donates School Furniture to YMCA Preschool and REC Primary School in Gloucester

The Gilo Educational Economic and Development (GEED) Foundation, in partnership with Excel Daycare, has donated 150 sets of school desks and chairs to YMCA Preschool and REC Primary School in Gloucester on Saturday, September 13, 2025.

The donation was complemented by a school feeding exercise for pupils of the two beneficiary institutions, bringing joy and relief to both children and parents.

The event attracted key community stakeholders, including the Gloucester Headman and representatives from various ministries, who expressed gratitude to Dr. Ekundayo Walton Gilpin and the GEED Foundation for supporting education and complementing government initiatives. Community members described the gesture as historic, noting it was the first time schools in the area had received such direct support from an organization.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Gilpin, Founder of the GEED Foundation, emphasized that the intervention—valued in millions of Leones—was designed to strengthen the Government’s Free Quality Education Program by creating a more conducive learning environment.

“Investment in children is an investment in the nation’s future. Among these children lies a future leader who will one day transform Sierra Leone,” Dr. Gilpin said.

He stressed that education goes beyond infrastructure, calling for the nurturing of values, discipline, and creativity. He further urged teachers to remain steadfast in their service and parents to actively support their children’s education, highlighting that collaboration among all stakeholders is vital for sustainable development.

Also addressing the gathering, Mrs. Onikeh King, Founder of Excel Daycare, commended teachers for their dedication and praised the GEED Foundation for its partnership. She added that hosting the event in a church, due to heavy rainfall, was a reminder of God’s blessings upon the initiative.

Representing the Government, Sheka Osman Sesay, Director of NGO Affairs at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, lauded the collaboration between the state and NGOs. He noted that the donation aligns with Sierra Leone’s development agenda, particularly in expanding access to quality education and enhancing school feeding programs.

The intervention follows the GEED Foundation’s seventh anniversary celebrations earlier this year, which commenced on April 11, 2025, on Bonthe Island—Dr. Gilpin’s birthplace. That event featured a march-past, melodrama performances, and community feeding, further demonstrating the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to human capital development.