By Aruna Turay
As part of activities marking its 7th Annual Marathon Day and also in celebrating its 200 years anniversary, Bollore Logistics Group in Sierra Leone has donated assorted food items including bags of rice, palmoil, and other cooking condiments to the Life Nehimia Project Home in Kissy.
The Company also used the Day to undertake a project on the renovation and furnishing of two large dormitories hosting dozens of boys and girls in the Home.
Handing over the items to the management of the Home, General Manager of Freetown Terminal Limited, a subsidiary of Bollore Group, Nicolas Escalin said the donation and renovation projects are in response to a call for effective philanthropic partnership between Bollore and the Life Nehimia Project seeking to address the neglect of the Home and the children.
He said the supports demonstrate the company’s commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children.
Receiving the donation, Head of the Life Nehimia Project, Executive Director, Prince Tommy Williams expressed thanks and appreciation to Freetown Terminal Limited for thinking of the Home in their this year’s marathon day celebration.
He said the Company made the right decision in coming to the aid of the Home, especially in renovating its dilapidated dormitories and providing food support for the kids.
He said: “We work and invest in young people and this is a timely relationship we are looking forward to going forward”.
The Life Nehimia Project is founded by Rev. Richard Cole and his wife Yeakah in 1996 as an organic response to the brutal conflict ravaging Sierra Leone, the organisation set about rebuilding the lives of ex-child soldiers and young people affected by war.
The organisation currently operates several projects throughout Sierra Leone including: formal education, vocational skill training, agricultural development, various social enterprises and a care home for young. In another development, Freetown Terminal Limited earlier held its 7th Annual Marathon Day at its Queen Elizabeth II facilities in Freetown.
The event brought together the management and staff of the company in a six-lap marathon run at its port facilities, which was highly commended by the workforce.
Over the years, Marathon Day has become an essential event for Bollore Transport and Logistics employees around the world. In spite of the constraints due to the health situation in different countries, it has always maintained the solidarity race. The Group has brought together more than 12,000 employees, in 91 countries, to cover 337,212 kilometers together.
This year’s event also marked the 200th anniversary of the parent body.
General Manager of Freetown Terminal Limited, a subsidiary of Bollore Group, Nicolas Escalin remarked that the annual marathon event aims to raise funds donated to vulnerable organizations in the country.
“We are going to use this year’s funds to refurbish an orphanage and provide food for the poor children,” He added that they have workers willing to help the poor. “We trust in people and want to support people. We work as a team to develop good work. It is good to use sport to keep the unity and health,” the General Manager said.
Bollore Transport and Logistics Country Manager,
Bertrand Kerguelen thanked his team for celebrating the 200 anniversary and implored them to always work hard. “Let us continue with the existing unity and work hard to sustain the company’s development,” he noted.
The company’s Human Resource Manager, Claurinda Morgan expressed happiness to be part of the Group’s 200 years anniversary and furthered that they have a dedicated team that is committed to their work. “We will continue to do our best in Sierra Leone,” she noted and continued that she feels good to be part of the marathon run that is good for their health. She urged her female colleagues to always embark on physical exercise for their health and safety.
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Created in 2016 by Cyrille Bolloré, Chairman of the Bolloré Group, the annual Marathon Day which is hosted in September brings together all Bolloré Group employees throughout the world for the benefit of charities that support youth.
Last year, employees chose to support the NGO Don Bosco Fambul, which works to help destitute and ill-treated children. The donation helped the organization in the numerous vital services it provides to young people relative to their professional future.
