Freetown — Fourah Bay community foundation, FBCF with support from the Islamic circle for North America Saturday donated 37 scholarships to deserving pupils who excelled in various primary schools in Freetown.

The donation ceremony took place at Sulaimani school, Forster Street in Freetown.

Given an overview of the project the foundation's secretary general Alhaji Babatondi Karim said his foundation was formed in 1993 at a time when the community was in dire need of assistance.

Karim said the organization has embarked on a series of development schemes in a bid to alleviate the plight of the needy and vulnerable people within the community.

He said some of the organization's founding members together with some philanthropists have decided to assist members of the said community.

"The main objective of the programme is to bring solidarity and harmony among members of the community. Our intervention is not political nor is it sectional but rather it is to offer assistance to people who are in need. We have given scholarships to pupils in the past that performed well in the national primary school examination, basic education certificate examination as well as the West Africa senior certificate examinations so that the community will have enough educated men and women who can take up responsibilities in society," he said.

Karim said: "That notwithstanding we have also provided financial assistance to the sick and aged. Currently we are supporting over 150 people during this Ramadan month." The foundation's deputy executive director Alhaji Zubairu Maldi lauded their brothers and sisters for rendering such a gesture.

He said they were impressed with pupils' performance over the years and called on parents to encourage their children by providing them with conducive learning environment.

Maldi said: "Parents have a lot to play in order to ensure that their children have better education. The money you are receiving today should be used for the intended purpose. We hope that you will use it to buy uniforms, books and other educational materials for the children."