July 21, 2026
When Pastor Francis Contech first connected with Jamaican-born philanthropist Donna More Stewart several years ago, he did not ask for money or material assistance. Instead, he sought a partnership rooted in shared purpose and lasting community development.
That simple request has blossomed into one of the most significant milestones in the history of Kakendema Village in Sierra Leone, West Africa. On July 3, more than 500 jubilant residents gathered to witness the official opening of the Pollyanna Project Empowerment Learning Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that Pastor Contech believes will permanently transform education, skills training and economic opportunity in the rural community.
“This is a historic occasion,” Pastor Contech declared as residents, traditional leaders, children and international visitors celebrated the commissioning ceremony. “Today is not just the opening of a building. It is a celebration of hope, opportunity, partnership and the transformative power of investing in people.”
For the people of Kakendema, the atmosphere resembled an early Christmas celebration. Excited children ran through the grounds while families received educational supplies, clothing, solar lighting systems and humanitarian assistance distributed by the Pollyanna Project team.
At the heart of the day’s festivities stood the Empowerment Learning Centre, a modern facility equipped with computers, sewing machines, digital learning resources, reliable internet access and a solar energy system that allows the building to operate independently of the national electricity grid.
For many residents, it was the first time they had ever seen a community facility offering digital learning opportunities. Pastor Contech explained that the centre builds upon nearly seven years of partnership between the Pollyanna Project and the people of Kakendema. Since 2018, the organisation has consistently supported the community through donations of educational materials, food supplies, clothing, improvements to sanitation facilities, school rehabilitation projects and other humanitarian initiatives.
He said the new centre represents the next phase of that relationship. “This centre stands as a symbol of possibility and progress,” he said. “It will provide opportunities for children to learn, for young people to develop valuable skills, for women to access empowerment programmes and for community members to come together to build a brighter future.”
The facility has been designed as a hub for computer literacy, vocational training, leadership development, entrepreneurship, mentoring and lifelong learning, creating opportunities that were previously unavailable to many residents.
Pastor Contech also challenged villagers to embrace collective ownership of the investment. “This belongs to the entire community,” he told residents. “Protect it, preserve it and ensure that generations yet unborn will benefit from what has been established here.”
The project represents the vision of Donna More Stewart, Executive Director of the Pollyanna Project, whose organisation has spent three decades providing humanitarian support throughout Jamaica, the United States and West Africa. Reflecting on the journey to the centre’s completion, Stewart recalled that Pastor Contech’s initial approach left a lasting impression.
“When I first met Pastor Francis, he did not ask for help,” she said. “He simply wanted connection. That inspired us to become part of the village.” She said Kakendema has distinguished itself because community members have actively participated in every stage of the development process.
“What makes Kakendema different from anywhere else we have worked is that the people are involved in every element of what we do,” Stewart explained. “Helping one hand at a time, you take part in building your own village. That is what motivates the Pollyanna approach.”
The impact of the project was evident in the reactions of residents, many of whom described the learning centre as a life-changing investment. Princess Kamara smiled broadly as she considered what the facility would mean for young people.
“We are happy for it,” she said. “We can now get skills right here in our community, which can make us better. I am so elated by this, and grateful for the Pollyanna Project. Blessings for them.”
Joseph Kamara echoed those sentiments, describing the centre as one of the most important developments the village has experienced. “The spirit of the community has been lifted with this great investment,” he said. “It is for our development and for our future. Everyone who enters this centre should remember that kind people gave it to us. We must use it wisely so it can benefit generations to come.”
Traditional leaders also pledged their support. Paramount Chief Alimamy Salifu Mansaray III said he deliberately interrupted his schedule to welcome the visiting delegation because of the importance of the occasion.
“I had to leave what I was doing to come and welcome you,” he said. “It is very important because of what you have done for my people. Every leader and every person who benefits from this centre must become its protector. It must remain here for generations because it is for the development of the community.”
Community Chief Joseph K. Contech similarly expressed heartfelt gratitude, offering prayers for the continued safety and success of the Pollyanna Project team. The benefits of the initiative are already reaching beyond the learning centre itself.
St. Charles Primary School received dozens of books to strengthen classroom instruction, while Head Teacher Dennis K. Koroma welcomed the opportunities now available to students. “The children of Kakendema will now learn computer skills, tailoring, hairdressing and other practical subjects,” he said.
He encouraged residents to safeguard the equipment entrusted to the community. “When they give you an item, don’t think it belongs only to you,” Koroma advised. “Use it carefully, leave it for others, and let these materials serve many people for years to come.”
For a village where educational resources and employment opportunities have traditionally been limited, the Empowerment Learning Centre represents far more than bricks, mortar and technology. Powered entirely by solar energy and connected to the internet, it opens a digital gateway to the wider world while providing practical skills that can lead to employment, entrepreneurship and greater self-reliance.
As children explored computers for the first time, families carried home school supplies and solar lamps, and community leaders pledged to protect the facility, one truth became unmistakably clear. For Kakendema Village, hope has found a permanent home, and through the vision of Pastor Francis Contech, Donna More Stewart and the Pollyanna Project, that hope now carries the promise of lasting transformation for generations to come.