Miss Sierra Leone USA Talks About The Fourah Bay College Project

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing great. I'm doing fantastic and the past few days have been a little busy but also exciting to be surrounded by family and friends. To God be the glory. On November 22nd, I attended a formal meeting by Save Sierra Leone Foundation, Inc. The purpose of this meeting was to give updates about the past and current endeavors of SSLF, as well as to listen to the proposal of Reverend Raymond de-Souza George about his current project titled The Fourah Bay College Project - Making Education a Priority in Sierra Leone and the possibility of forming a partnership with SSLF. I am currently the director of Networking IT Communications of Save Sierra Leone Foundation.

Ms. Patricia O. Thorpe-Finney (President of SSLF), Rev. Raymond de-Souza George, and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Rev. Raymond de-Souza George fondly known as “Papa Ray” to his students and admirers in the theater industry is a multi-talented creative artist, history professor at Fourah Bay College (University of Sierra Leone), and recently ordained minister . For over forty years, Papa Ray has used his passion and his extraordinary talent for the performing arts to uplift the consciousness of Sierra Leoneans to strive for higher ideals. I remember my days as a student at Murraydeen Preparatory School and Methodist Girls' High School in Freetown learning about Rev. de-Souza George, Dele Charley, John Kolossa Kargbo, Esther Taylor-Pearce, and other theatre legends in my drama and social studies classes. Coincidentally, my drama teacher at Murraydeen and one of my favorite teachers in the world Mr. Jonathan Bundu was one his trained students in theater; Mr. Bundu is one of the main reasons I fell in love with theater in Sierra Leone as a young girl and was so excited to be back on stage in April 2011 performing Let Me Die Alone: The Life and Times of Madam Yoko with Sierra Theatre Productions. Founding member of Sierra Theatre Productions in the US, Mr. David Buakei Vandy, was also trained by Papa Ray.

Rev. Raymond de-Souza George and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

There are three layers to Rev. Raymond de-Souza George's Fourah Bay College project. His mission "Using theater as a power to uplift others" will be used to create a summer 2014 tour around the United States with his cast from Sierra Leone that will perform his famous play, Bכbכ lεf. Layer 1 consists of structural and internal reparation of Mary Kingsley Auditorium at Fourah Bay College; funds will be used for painting, lighting, reroofing, possible extension of the building, purchase of generator, dressing rooms, sound equipments and electrical wiring, storage facilities, etc. Layer 2 consists of internal and structural reparation of Eldred Jones Auditorium at Fourah Bay College which includes seating, intercom system, facility urinals, generator purchase, secure locks, etc. Funds generated from Papa Ray's Tour with his cast nationwide in the US will be used to benefit these two layers of the Project. Layer 3 consists of civic education. Papa Ray believes that there is a need for attitudinal change among Sierra Leoneans. He believes that civic education will positively impact the nation by changing people's thought patterns, attitudes, and behavior regarding work, change, and empowerment; he strongly believes that we (Sierra Leoneans) need to be nation-conscious NOT region-conscious. I strongly agree! Efforts towards this third layer includes: preservation of existing body of creative works, social mobilization (attitudinal change, patriotism, and nationalism); use of drama, poetry, and songs via radio, newspaper, television, posters, and banners; there will be a need for office space, computer, printer and scanner, generator, and transportation provisions.

Left to right:
Rev. Raymond de-Souza George, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, Rachel, Ms. Elvina de-Souza Omidiran, Mr. Prince Thorpe, Ms. Patricia O. Thorpe-Finney, Mr. Sam Bangura, and Dr. Festus Cole.

In attendance were: Rev. Raymond de-Souza George, Ms. Elvina de-Souza Omidiran (daughter of Papa Ray and owner of Brye Cupcakes), Miss Rachel (granddaughter of Papa Ray and daughter of Ms. Elvina), Mr. Prince Thorpe (SSLF director of research and development), Ms. Patricia O. Thorpe-Finney (Founder/President of SSLF), Mr. Sam Bangura (SSLF director of Marketing), Dr. Festus Cole (Historian and friend of SSLF), and Mr. Sully Hamid (SSLF director of Public Relations). The meeting consisted of: presentation by Rev. Raymond de-Souza on the FBC Project, Question-and-Answer segment about the proposal, SSLF voting on the proposal, identifying key players for the development of the project, and devising plans and dates for the FBC project and Papa Ray's USA tour.

Future Miss Sierra Leone
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson crowns Miss Rachel

On Monday, November 25th, some members of Save Sierra Leone Foundation along with Rev. Raymond de-Souza George and Ms. Elvina de-Souza Omidiran visited the Embassy of Sierra Leone in the United States in Washington, DC. In attendance was: Chief of Mission His Excellency Bockarie Kortu Stevens, Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Ibrahim S. Conteh, Head of Chancery Mrs. Isatu Isha Sillah, Ms. Patricia O. Thorpe-Finney, Mr. David Buakei Vandy, and Mr. Sully Hamid.

Meeting with His Excellency Bockari Kortu Stevens, Rev. Raymond de-Souza George, and Save Sierra Leone Foundation delegation

Save Sierra Leone Foundation delegation and Embassy of Sierra Leone staff

The purpose of this gathering at the Embassy of Sierra Leone was to present Rev. Raymond de-Souza George's Fourah Bay College Project to His Excellency Ambassador Stevens and to discuss a collaboration with the Embassy of Sierra Leone regarding the FBC Project. Discussions involved: the role the Embassy of Sierra Leone can play in the project, strategies for fundraising and advertisement, announcement of the upcoming town hall meeting, etc. In conclusion, this meeting was a success and the embassy is on-board and excited to collaborate in making this dream of Papa Ray come true. I am sure this project will and should receive support from FBC students and alumni, Sierra Leoneans, and friends of FBC and Sierra Leone.

Left to right:
Ms. Elvina de-Souza Omidiran, Mrs. Isatu Isha Sillah, Ms. Patricia O. Thorpe-Finney, His Excellency Bockarie Stevens, Rev. Raymond de-Souza George, Ambassador Ibrahim Conteh, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, and Mr. David Vandy.

Ms. Patricia O. Thorpe-Finney (Founder of SSLF), Head of Chancery Mrs. Isatu Isha Sillah, Rev. Raymond de-Souza George, and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Rev. Raymond de-Souza George and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

As a Sierra Leonean with a passion for the arts and someone that acted in many plays in Sierra Leone as a young girl, I highly support Papa Ray's endeavors. I am aware of the importance and legacy of the Fourah Bay College and its influence of how Sierra Leone became known as the Athens of West Africa. My personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is advocating for SHERO and E is for education, every pillar of the FBC project embodies the need for better education in the university as well as Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad. If you will like to know more about Papa Ray's project and more about his summer 2014 USA tour with his cast, please visit the Save Sierra Leone Foundation website. There is also a wonderful opportunity for you to meet Papa Ray and hear his plea along with members of Save Sierra Leone Foundation at the Town Hall meeting this Sunday in Maryland, USA. Here's the link to the event page. See you then.

Proudly Sierra Leonean and American
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson with the flags of the Republic of Sierra Leone and United States of America

You're invited to the...

Town Hall Meeting on the FBC Project - Making Education a Priority in Sierra Leone

Sunday, December 1, 2013

3-5PM prompt

Good Samaritan Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall

10110 Greenbelt Road, Lanham, MD 20706 USA

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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Photo credit: David Buakei Vandy