CK Science’s Operations Director, and co-founder, Liam O’Connell has been a Governor at St Mary’s Catholic High School, near the Chesterfield head office, for over 4 years.
During this time he has actively supported St Mary’s commitment to a primary school in West Africa and now personally sponsors a couple of the children who attend the school. He has also enlisted the support of the scientific recruitment company to aid St Mary’s in the education and maintenance of the school and its pupils.
The school, Ecole Saint Marie, was built in the rural village of Titao over 8 years ago and has been funded through the donations made by St Mary’s school plus those made by staff, students and supporters. It now has over 250 pupils, aged between 6 and 12, with classes of up to 60 students, some of whom walk over an hour each way to attend. Located in the bush of Burkina Faso in West Africa, these children are fighting against all odds for their education as the country has one of the world’s lowest GDP’s.
Surrounded by 6 countries, including Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso has a population of less than 16 million who depend upon agriculture and international aid for their economic well being. With a history of political unrest, the challenges the people of Burkina Faso face on a daily basis make the achievements of the teachers and students at Ecole Saint Marie even more impressive.
With the donations from CK Science and his personal sponsorship assured, Liam is keen to raise the profile of Ecole Saint Marie and has involved his staff in fund raising. He says; ‘In 2013 the school ran out of money for the canteen so children as young as 6 were going hungry all day. CK Science funded the gap to ensure that this problem was overcome immediately. CK Science’s employees have given generously and I know they will continue to do so to prevent this from happening again.’
For more information on this cause contact Liam O’Connell on
loconnell@ckscience.co.uk
