The Freetown City Council (FCC) has met with market women, community leaders, key partners, Councillor Agnes Marah and the wider Congo Water community at the newly-constructed early learning center for children of the women who sell at Congo Water Market.
FCC, with support from an American philanthropist Ms. Sonia Gardner, has completed the construction of its first early learning center for 40 preschool children at the Congo Water Market.
The engagement was led by Cllr Mary Kamara, chair of the Market Committee at FCC and Ms. Ariana Oluwole of Narnia Early Learning Center who together explained to the community what amenities the facility will provide and the process of enrolling students for the upcoming school year.
The early learning center which will be named FCC Early Learning Adventures at Congo Water Market will target children whose mothers sell at the Congo Water Market and who are up to date on their market dues payments. One child per household between the ages of 1 to 5 years will be admitted to the early learning centre and unlike many other early learning centers in Freetown, this one will offer extended school time where students will have the option to stay in school until 3pm whilst their mothers are in the market.
In his remarks, one of the community elders, Chief Alhaji Alimamy Kanu, thanked Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and FCC for their commitment to making sure that children in the Congo Water Community have the opportunity to get an excellent early start in their education.
Councilor Agnes Marah, gave the assurance to the community that she will continue to work with them in the development of their community, and especially with the women at the Congo Water Market. She reminded them that after the turning of the sod for the nursery in April of this year, the Mayor stayed committed to her promise and commitment she made to the women within the market. She reiterated that this early learning centre was one of the Mayor’s campaign promises – to make sure that children of market women within the municipality are not left behind and that they receive a head start in their education.
