By Ibrahim S. Bangura
New School Brings Hope to Kawa Community
Koinadugu District, Sierra Leone – 2025: The Kawa community in Koinadugu District has celebrated the commissioning of a new school facility, marking a transformative moment for children, parents, and teachers who for years struggled without proper educational infrastructure.
The Kawa Catholic Primary School, built through the initiative of Peter Bayoku Konteh, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Little Step Organization, was constructed with support from the Fetgochi family in Italy. The project, which began as a vision, has now become a powerful symbol of progress and opportunity for rural education.
At the commissioning ceremony, residents recalled Konteh’s pledge not only to build the school but also to ensure its sustainability. True to his word, the Little Step Organization distributed school bags, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, pens, rulers, sharpeners, chalk, and other essential supplies.
The donation sparked visible excitement among pupils. Peter T. Trawallie, a Class Four pupil, said:
“Before now, I used to come to school without books or a bag. Today I am very happy because I have everything I need to learn. I want to study hard and become a teacher.”
Another pupil, Mariama Kamara, expressed similar joy:
“This is the happiest day for me. I never had a new uniform before. Thank you to the people who helped us. I will not miss school again.”
Representing the organization, Amadou T. Conteh, Program Manager of Little Step, emphasized the long-standing relationship between the organization and the Kawa community. He assured residents that Konteh remains committed to developing the school into a model institution for rural education, with plans to furnish classrooms with desks, tables, blackboards, Community elder Alie Sillah delivered heartfelt appreciation on behalf of residents: “Thank you to Little Step and the entire team. We truly appreciate your support to our children and our community. We have suffered for a long time without such facilities, and we will ensure that we make proper use of this school.”
He described the event as one of the happiest moments in the community’s history, recalling years of hardship when children lacked basic learning materials and teachers had limited resources.
Special recognition was also given to teachers, including Mr. E. T. K., and community members Jennifer Toronka and Mwame Toronka for their continued support.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of school bags and uniforms to excited pupils, who proudly displayed their new items to parents and guardians. The atmosphere was filled with cheers, laughter, and tears of joy as families celebrated a new beginning.
The support of the Little Step Organization and its Italian partners has not only strengthened the educational foundation of the Kawa community but has also rekindled hope, unity, and progress. What was once a distant dream has now become a reality, marking a new chapter in the community’s educational journey.