Tenki Books on Wheels Pilot Kick Off
For some time, Tenki has discussed rolling out a program to improve literacy rates for children in Sierra Leone. We were excited to finally launch our initiative by kicking off the Tenki Books-On-Wheels Program!
Books-on-Wheels program (TBOW™) is designed to encourage literacy and inspire imagination in children everywhere, especially those who do not have access to books. Its primary objective is to transport mentors to communities where they will read to young learners, provide tutoring services in various academic areas, and bring books and technology to young learners who have limited access to these resources.
In October 2024, Tenki partnered with CP Foray/St. Michael's Junior Secondary School in Gbaiima Songa, a village in Sierra Leone's Bo District, to pilot the TBOW™ program. Five Tenki volunteers traveled to Sierra Leone to conduct training and kick off the program."
It was a long journey from the DC airport, through Turkey, and on to Freetown, but the team arrived safely (Benneh would arrive a few days later).
We lodged at the historic Radisson Hotel and hit the ground running the next day, traveling around town to pick up last-minute items. Books were picked up from where Josephine's organization stored them (thanks, Josephine!).
Many thanks to Nina Wu. The Readery donated over 700 books to Tenki and shipped them to Sierra Leone. We could not have gotten started without this critical contribution!
With books in tow, it was off to the provinces to train the mentors.
Finally, we arrived. We lodged at Njala Venue in Bo and traveled to Gbaiima Songa from there.
Prior to the training, the team met with local officials, including the Paramount Chief of Gbo District and chiefs from neighboring villages. The meeting was successful and included discussions about collaboration between Tenki and village leaders for future initiatives.
The subsequent training went off without a hitch! Well, without many hitches.
We recruited and trained five rockstar mentors: Mohammed Lassayo, Abdulai (French) Barry, Samuelka Koroma, Adama Tarawallie, and Francis Williams. Mr. Mohammed Gbondo, the CP Foray JSS principal, also participated in the training, and provided valuable contributions and oversight (a couple of the mentors work at his school, after all).
Training content included in-depth introductions to the organization and the TBOW program (with Mariama Massaquoi Gartmann joining virtually—hooray for Wi-Fi hotspots!), fun ice-breaking exercises, as well as specialized instruction on tutoring for both reading and mathematics, engaging with and nurturing young readers, and setting up TBOW reading/tutoring sessions in terms of logistics."
Big shout-out to Sister Shanaz Ghani, who played a critical role in training the mentors on techniques that will help them educate young learners both during TBOW sessions and in their own classrooms, for those mentors who also work as educators. Sister Shanaz Ghani has over 30 years of experience as an educator in Houston, Texas, so her insights were exceptionally nuanced and well-received by the entire team, as well as by local leaders. Thanks, Sister Shanaz, for your valued participation!"
The mentors were trained on the Libib library circulation application, where all donated books are catalogued, to be made available for students to check out during and after TBOW sessions.
A ceremony was held to introduce the program to the local community, with Local Government Officials, including the Bo Council Chairman, in attendance. We’ll need the community’s awareness and support in order to make this program a success!
Finally, the team settled on a schedule for the program’s anticipated pilot period, from October 15, 2024 until the end of the academic school year in May 2025. Mentors were split into two team's, (Congratulations to Mohammed Lassayo and Adama Tarawallie for being elected as Team Leads) and assigned days where they would visit specific villages after school and read to children/provide access to
Mentors would be given a small stipend to assist with their transport and/or lunch during sessions, and funds would be provided to Team Leads to purchase snacks for the students.
Monday: Molendeh (Team Lassayo)
Tuesday: Ngaigahun (Team Tarawallie)
Wednesday: Kortumah (Team Lassayo)
Thursday: Bissau (Team Tarawallie)
Friday: Baiima (ALL)
There were a couple of hiccups as we searched for a vehicle to transport mentors around with the requisite reading materials, but finally, we purchased a tricycle that looked fit for the job, and committed to providing funding for fuel during the program's operation. Sallia Fawundu, a friend of the family, donated a GPS tracking system that will keep tabs on the tricycle’s whereabouts, and Mr. Gbondo agreed to work with the program as a point of contact for coordination with the mentors, and as a driver!
Empowering Sierra Leone's Youth: The Next Chapter Begins!
As our initial training phase wrapped up, we took an exciting step forward in our literacy mission. Our dedicated mentors are now equipped with everything they need to lead the next phase of the pilot program - from carefully selected books to essential teaching supplies and support stipends.
While our physical presence transitions back to the States, our commitment remains unwavering. The Tenki team will maintain close contact with our mentors, providing ongoing guidance, updates, and necessary funding to ensure the program's success.
The passion and capability we've witnessed in our mentors fills us with confidence. These educational leaders have demonstrated the skills, dedication, and heart needed to make a lasting impact. We can't wait to see how their guidance will spark growth and foster a love of reading among Sierra Leone's young learners.
This isn't just about teaching reading - it's about empowering the next generation. Through the combined efforts of our mentors and the Tenki team, we're helping to write a new chapter in Sierra Leone's educational story. Stay tuned for updates as our mentors lead the way in transforming young lives through the power of literacy!
#TBOW #TENKI
#Education #Literacy #SierraLeone #GlobalEducation #YouthEmpowerment
[photo of Jitta with those two girls]