By Ragan M. Conteh

Since its establishment in 2014, the Extra Mile Charity Secondary School on Sunday 16th February, 2025 marks its first Foundation and Thanksgiving celebrations.

The ceremony which took place at the school compound attracted prominent stakeholders including the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Teaching Education Commission, community stakeholders and government representatives including parents.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Extra Mile Charity Foundation, Luke Tamlage from United Kingdom expressed his thanks and appreciation to Moses Probyn Conteh and Mike Fielding for such a laudable venture.

He also extended his appreciation to the teachers and students for their efforts to raising the standards to higher level.

He therefore extended his unflinching commitment to ensure that the school maintains its pedigree as well as delivering quality education in the country.

Serving as keynote speaker, Pastor Prince Opoku David thanked the Foundation members, stating that the celebration was part of God’s grace to reflect on what has happened both positive and negative in the past years.

Pastor David thanked Moses Probyn Conteh for making the dream comes true, adding that the excelling of the school is not just from the effort human but it is the grace from heaven.

He urged the administration of the school and donors to do more and ensure that they continue best performance in both public examination and the quality aspect of the education.

Pastor David offer prayers for both the foundation members and the school.

Making his speech for the First Foundation Day and Thanksgiving, Moses Probyn Conteh who is the founding member who also serves as Country Director for the Charity expressed his heartfelt joy and thanksgiving to stand for the first time to celebrate the day of The Great Extra Mile School.

According to Moses Probyn Conteh, the celebration is not only an anniversary-it is a testament to what faith, hard work, and common vision can do.

He revealed that, 14 years ago, what they now have as a successful school was merely a dream-a vision born out of a deep passion by Mike Fielding, to give children access to quality education regardless of their situation.

He said as one of the founding members, he remembered the hardships they went through, the uncertainties, and the apparent insurmountable challenges but they moved ahead, propelled by the belief that every child can be given a chance to learn, to dream, and to secure a brighter tomorrow.

“Now, as we look out and see the smiling faces of our children and parents, the dedication of our staff, and the support of our beloved community, we know that everything was worth it. This school is not just a building; this is a center of hope where knowledge, kindness, and possibility are brought together to change lives,” Conteh stated.

On this wonderful day, he buttressed, “let us take a moment to offer our heartfelt thanks to our teachers and staff your love, patience, and dedication, create this school as a school of learning and love. You are shaping the future, child by child”.

Probyn Conteh also expressed his profound thanks to their philanthropic donors, friends and benefactors, adding that their kind hearts and generosity have provided them with the resources to turn this dream into a tangible reality, citing that they could not have done this without them.

He also heaped praises on the Funkia Community/Goderich village for offering them the land to assist build and run the free quality school and to making the dream of the school come true.

“We have enjoyed good relationship with our headmen who have led this community at the beginning of the school project, stating that the whole community has been supportive to this mission.

As we celebrate this achievement, Moses Conteh opined, don’t forget that this is only the beginning, stating that there is more to be done regarding service delivery, and larger dreams to pursue.

He said to all who shared this journey with them, on behalf of Extra Mile Charity Trustees, goodwill donors and their esteemed staff, he pleaded with them to continue to serve, teach, and transform lives.

In his statement, the Principal of the Extra Mile School, Wusu Kargbo usher in his profound thanks to all the invitees to grace the occasion.

He said they were gathered for the schools foundation celebrations and thanksgiving service which he said the school has achieved quite beyond its expectations of people within the community.

Wusu Kargbo also stated that the school has made marks as one of the top performing schools in the country in terms of external examination grades.

He revealed that one of their success stories is that of their “Nine Legends”, the first set of candidates for the WASSCE in 2022 for their outstanding performance.

He revealed that the school received award for the best performance from the Ministry of Basic Education.

“I’m proud to inform this audience that about 90% of them are near completion of their university programs in Sierra Leone and abroad,” he proudly added.

The principal furthered that as a way of giving back to their school and community, three of them are currently teaching in the school and that since then the school has maintained those high standards.

He revealed that the school is government assisted charity providing free quality Junior and senior secondary education to vulnerable girls and boys within Goderich and the surrounding communities.

The school, he said, is a non-fee paying school and provides breakfast, uniforms, textbooks and notebooks free of charge for pupils.

He went on that the school enrolment has been on the increase for both boys and girls and their current enrolment for JSS and SSS is 185.

“We are presenting 22 candidates for WASSCE this year and 25 candidates for BECE, adding that such achievements are worth celebrating,” he stated.

He therefore expressed his profound gratitude to the founding members especially Mike Fielding and Moses Probyn Conteh for their vision.

He also extended his thanks to stakeholders including Extra Mile Board of Trustees and community leaders of the Oba Sai Funkia Community for providing the land.

He also spoke on some of the challenges faced by the school including the retention of teachers and among others.

Several government and community stakeholders including Mr. Samuel Garus, Madam Oluyemi C. J Pratt and past pupil of the school Musa Alusine Kanu made salient statements.

They pleaded with the donor partners to maximize their unflinching support to the school.