On October 12, 2023, we, in collaboration with the Wazni Foundation, orchestrated a significant back-to-school ceremony, highlighting the recent rehabilitation of seven elementary school in the urban commune of Boké. This initiative underlines our deep commitment to education as a key to development, with a particular focus on improving the quality of primary education in Guinea.

At the heart of the ceremony, we honored the best students in each grade and distributed school kits to first-graders. This approach, which combines the renovation and maintenance of schools, aims to support the national objective of improving the quality of primary education in Guinea, by working to improve access and the learning environment.

In December 2020, our teams, in collaboration with the DPE, neighborhood chiefs and community agents, carried out a survey identifying 11 elementary school in need of complete renovation in the urban commune of Boké. The Wazni Foundation then launched a vast renovation and maintenance plan, with our support as technical and financial partner. By the end of 2022, seven schools had been fully renovated: Koffia, Général Lansana Conte, Baralande, Dibia, Tamaransy, Madina Kebaya, and Khougnewade 2.

To ensure a successful start to the new school year, these schools benefited from a new maintenance and rehabilitation operation from August 28. Our teams of skilled workers have collaborated with local craftsmen (masons, painters, carpenters, plumbers, welders, cleaners) to carry out the work, which includes various repairs, painting, the installation of child-friendly latrines, electrification work, the renovation of safety boards and barriers, and the installation of new furniture and equipment.

All in all, this maintenance plan has considerably improved teaching conditions for a total of 3,998 pupils, including 1,659 girls, resulting in a significant increase in the number of new enrolees. This joint action reinforces our commitment to education and sustainable community development.

The back-to-school ceremony gave students and teachers access to newly fitted-out classrooms and facilities. As an added bonus, the best students in each class were honored with a diploma, recognizing their commitment and hard work. Each first-grade pupil and teacher received a school kit including a notebook and pen, generously donated by Papeterie centrale de Conakry. This initiative demonstrates the company’s commitment to the development of young people. The ceremony was enriched by the participation of a troupe of young actors from Boké, offering a theatrical performance in the local language, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of school attendance and the preservation of classrooms in good condition.

” Our students and staff are extremely grateful; our school has undergone an impressive transformation. The new infrastructure and equipment will create a much better learning environment for our students. We’re looking forward to the new school year under these conditions ” says Florentin Lamah, director of theKhougnéwade 2.

” We are proud to celebrate today the results of our commitment to education in the Boké region. These renovations are part of our long-term commitment to creating the right conditions for children to learn in a serene and safe environment. Local communities are the backbone of our business, and it’s vital for us to have a real social impact. ” says Fadi Wazni, Chairman of the UMS Board of Directors.

” We are honored to contribute, alongside the Wazni Foundation, to this positive initiative for the children of the Boké community. The plan to renovate and maintain these schools is a key step towards improving access to education and creating new socio-economic opportunities for young people. We are determined to continue supporting such initiatives in the future. concludes Mohamed Bennani, Managing Director of UMS.

Link to original article – Emergencegn.net