Lauds staff for hard work, learns from Mr. Sean’s “While my heart beats…”

By John T. Monibah
(Don Bosco Homes Media Report)

The Duchess of York yesterday visited the Sean Devereux Technical School in Brewerville and told staff and students she’s inspired by their hard work and smile.

Sarah Margaret Ferguson, serving as keynote speaker at the dedicatory program of the Sean Devereux Skills Training building, said: “I want to thank the people of Liberia because you have been through so much and still you smile. You inspire me so much”.

The Sean Devereux Skills Training building was built with funds provided by the United Nations peace keeping Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) under its Quick Impact program. The Duchess of York was accompanied to the dedicatory program by a high-powered UNMIL staff including its Officer-in-Charge, Jordan Ryan. The UNMIL Quick Impact funds were intended to actually renovate an old mud-bricks building. Instead, the building was broken down and rebuilt with concrete from start to finished and is now a new, sparkling structure, something considered a big success story in UNMIL-sponsored projects settings.

The Duchess of York arrived on campus to a happy welcome with traditional songs, sasa, and dances. An army of media and security personnel jostled for space. She disembarked the vehicle and immediately started shaking hands, asking questions, and speaking to children and staff of the SDTS.

At the podium she continued: “I came to Liberia because Liberia must not be forgotten” and will talk about Liberia wherever she goes so that Liberia’s case can be highlight. Sarah Margaret Ferguson said soon she will be on TV in America and will speak to an Australia newspaper during which “I will talk about Liberia”.

She paid tribute to Sean Devereux and said: “I have learned something from Sean today. And that is “While my heart beats, I have to do what I think I can do, and that is to help those who are less fortunate”. She also praised the staff of the school for their hard work.

She then cut the ribbon to the new building and toured the facilities. No promises were made, except that she said she promised the Minister of Education, Dr Joseph Korto, that she would help in the country’s educational sector.

Earlier, Sean Devereux Children’s Education Program’s Board Chairoerson, Amelia Ward, said it was a great opportunity to have a great visitor like the Duchess of York to come to dedicate the building. She said it was “a blessed day for the Sean Devereux family”. She added: “Sean was an inspiration for many of us in Liberia. The work here is intended to uphold that spirit of service. His mother, Mrs. Devereux, visited us here and we told her how great Sean was to all of us”. The SDCEP’s Board Chairperson hoped the Duchess “will have an everlasting memory of the Sean Devereux School when she returns home”.

For his part, SDCEP Director Amadu Sarnor, praised UNMIL for the building and said the skills to be offered would serve as an impetus for youth empowerment. He said the institution has received tremendous help from the Sean Devereux Fund UK in cash, relief materials, sewing machines, visits, cassava grinder, and books. UNICEF provided nine used computers but no generator to run them.

Also speaking, UNMIL’s Officer-in-Charge Jordan Ryan said the community of Perry Town, Brewerville was to be congratulated more than UNMIL itself. He lauded Sean Devereux School for a job well done. He hoped that all Liberian women who used their thumbs to vote in the last elections would be able to print their names by the next elections. He said UNMIL was ready to work closely with Government, communities, and Liberians in the rebuilding process.

Education Ministry Dr. Joseph Korto said the dedicatory program brought “a sense of relief” for all as it would now enable more Liberian youth to acquire skills. He said up to present only 50% of youth were in school while Government was looking for space to accommodate the other 50%. He accepted OIC Ryan’s challenge that illiterate Liberian women should be able to print their names by the next elections in 2011.

Since its founding in 1993, SDCEP works in the areas of skills training, agriculture, basic literacy and numeracy, and academic education. Its beneficiaries are children/youth and needy women. SDCEP is located on VOA 1 Road, Perry Town, Brewerville, and Montserrado.

The Duchess who has been visiting Liberia also met with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. She departed country yesterday.

News | 8th July 2007 @ 2:54 pm