The school year in Sierra Leone is well underway, and the children are back in their routine. This year, The Raining Season Primary School is serving thirty-one children from TRS and one hundred-five children from the community. It is an honor to be able to open our doors to the community to serve these children and work with their families to provide a quality education at an affordable rate.
Even before opening the school doors to the community, The Raining Season Primary School had the opportunity to establish its own library onsite in 2020. The library was created not only to support the school but also to increase excitement around books and promote reading for enjoyment. Aside from school, reading is not the cultural norm. However, in an effort to create change, and because we know that readers are leaders, The Raining Season library was created to provide easy access to books. Reading teaches empowerment, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It shows the ability to have a voice and to express yourself. It teaches you how to convey your thoughts verbally and in written form. These skills are so important for our kids at The Covering and the students from the community. These skills are necessary whether they go on to be accountants, teachers, seamstresses, nurses, logistics officers, or whatever path they might choose.
The onsite library is accessible to our children, students at The Raining Season Primary School, and its teachers. The teachers use the materials from the library to prepare their lessons, and they also distribute books to the students during their lessons. The books in the library, mainly brought by teams, range from picture books to chapter books and teaching manuals, ensuring there is something for everyone. All of the books have also been approved by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. Access to the library means the kids are excited to read new books while discovering their favorite genres and characters.
The library is just one of many changes we have seen in fifteen years. Since moving to The Covering twelve years ago, we have dug a well and developed a garden. Through your generous support, we've added new beds, mattresses, mosquito nets, and even basketball hoops. The addition of our own library and expansion of our school provides opportunity through education, not only for the children in our care but also for children in the community. We are so grateful for the dedicated support of our staff and supporters who make all this possible. It truly takes a village, and we couldn't do it without you.
Many blessings,
The Raining Season