Rotary Club donates 50 chairs to Bayelsa school, unveils literacy project

The Rotary Club of Yenagoa Sunshine has donated 50 chairs to Luxuriant Mission Academy, Azikoro, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as part of efforts to improve the learning environment for 185 pupils and students of the school.

The donation was made on Monday during the inauguration of the club’s Basic Education and Literacy (BRED) Project, aimed at addressing inadequate furniture and other infrastructural challenges affecting teaching and learning.

The ceremony was led by the Rotary International District 9141 Governor, Rotarian Anthony Chibueze Olikagu, alongside the Assistant Governor, Rotarian Solomon Chuks; District Secretary, Rotarian Innocent Jumbo; President of the Rotary Club of Yenagoa Sunshine, Rotarian Onyaye Edgar Kunle-Olowu; members of the club; and other invited guests.

The intervention also included the provision of a modern writing board, floor plastering and other educational support to make the school environment more conducive to learning.

Speaking at the event, Kunle-Olowu said her decision to support the school followed an emotional first visit during which she was confronted with the difficult conditions under which the pupils and students received lessons.

She said the experience strengthened her determination to mobilise members of the club’s management board and other partners to improve the facilities and create a better learning environment for the children.

According to her, the BRED Literacy Project was conceived as a practical demonstration of Rotary’s commitment to education and community development.

She said, “The condition of the school during my first visit touched me deeply. I felt there was a need to do something to improve the learning environment for these children.

“That experience motivated me to reach out to members of the club’s management board and our partners so that we could collectively make a difference in the lives of the pupils and students.

“Our intervention is aimed at supporting education, improving access to essential learning resources and giving these children a more conducive environment in which to learn.”

The club president said the project reflected the importance of community service and the need for individuals and organisations to contribute to the development of educational institutions, particularly those facing infrastructural challenges.

She added that the club would continue to explore opportunities to support communities through initiatives capable of producing lasting benefits.

Luxuriant Mission Academy, located in the Azikoro community, has been providing primary and secondary education for more than a decade but has faced challenges associated with inadequate furniture and other facilities.

The donation is expected to improve seating arrangements for the beneficiaries and support classroom activities.

Inaugurating the project, Olikagu commended the Rotary Club of Yenagoa Sunshine for identifying the school’s needs and responding with practical assistance.

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He said the intervention demonstrated how Rotary’s humanitarian ideals could be translated into projects that directly benefit communities.

The District Governor reaffirmed Rotary International’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide, while identifying literacy as a major focus of the organisation’s global development agenda.

He said, “Rotary remains committed to the eradication of polio worldwide. At the same time, literacy is a major priority in our global development efforts because education is fundamental to the progress of individuals and communities.”

Olikagu added that combining global humanitarian priorities with grassroots interventions was essential to improving the lives of children and other vulnerable groups.

According to him, projects that address practical challenges in schools help advance the broader objective of creating opportunities for children to learn and develop their potential.

He urged stakeholders to support initiatives that promote education and improve the welfare of children, particularly in communities where inadequate facilities could affect the learning process.

Other speakers, including representatives of the Educare Educational Foundation, Potters Touch High School and the beneficiary school, praised the Rotary Club of Yenagoa Sunshine and its partners for the gesture.

They noted that collaboration among service organisations, educational institutions and community stakeholders could help address some of the challenges facing schools.

The Principal of Luxuriant Mission Academy, Mrs Ann Aganaba, expressed appreciation to the club for the intervention, saying the provision of chairs and other facilities would contribute to improving the pupils’ and students’ learning experience.

She said, “We are grateful to the Rotary Club of Yenagoa Sunshine and its partners for remembering our school and responding to some of our needs.

“The donation of these chairs and the improvement of other facilities will help create a better atmosphere for teaching and learning. We sincerely appreciate the support extended to our pupils and students.”

Aganaba also acknowledged the importance of partnerships in supporting schools and providing children with facilities that could encourage effective learning.

The pupils and students expressed their excitement during the ceremony through songs, dances and drama presentations, celebrating the intervention and thanking the club and its partners for their support.

Their performances added colour to the event as guests watched the children demonstrate their appreciation for the improved facilities.