- Day of the African Child 2020 press release
The “Day of the African Child” is an international event, celebrated every year on 16th June, to raise awareness of the continuing need to promote children’s rights and to improve education to African children.
Since the Coronavirus prevents us from getting together to celebrate this day, teachers and other OWL members in Bo and the UK met up in a virtual meeting.My first visit to Bo – the most incredible experience
Going to Africa for the first time was immense and the greeting I received from everyone that I met was full of joy and happiness. Having the opportunity to teach children at St Francis Upper Bo was surreal. It felt like a dream, the rapport that I had with all the children was immense, they would not let me leave the school, I felt like a famous person. I taught children in Year 4 and in Year 6 a variety of subjects including Maths, Literacy, Reading and Science.
On our ‘Field-trip’ day, two children from each linked school, visited the Bo Waste Management Centre. Here the children learned about recycling and why burning plastics is harmful to the environment. The boys from St Francis, were enthusiastic, energetic and passionate.How it all began
Jane Knight conceived the idea of a friendship link after visiting West Africa in 1977, assuming that the idea would be welcomed by communities in both countries – it was not that simple! She has now written an Early History of One World Link describing the many twists and turns she had to negotiate before the link was established in 1981. With great frankness her daily diaries show how her spirits were frequently dashed by one person and then rekindled by another as she visited schools, hospitals and other contacts in Sierra Leone.
- Bo Schools return on 1st July
Today, July 1st, Bo schools have opened again for Class Six pupils who will sit their NPSE exams in August. Teachers and pupils alike have come to school with their face masks.
Our schools link enables us to connect with people from a different culture to learn about life from friends. This helps us all to become compassionate global citizens.New Committee in Bo
Following the tragic recent deaths of Maada Fobay and Alpha Bah, both active and key members of the OWL committee in Bo, the committee met on 14th March 2020 to elect a new executive. The new Chairman is Dr Wusu Sannoh, ex. Mayor of Bo, and Chairman of the Bo Children’s Hospital Board and a much respected elder in the Bo community.
They are a committed and active team and we can look forward with confidence to the future of One World Link.Planning Bo’s future growth: the work continues
We have partnered with the Prince’s Foundation to deliver training and the development of a “toolkit” to help cities such as Bo plan for their growth. Bo City Council staff have been undertaking the next phase of the work themselves. One of the outcomes of the workshop in January was the identification of an area as a natural hub for this growing community,
