The administration of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Margibi County, has lauded the long-standing partnership between it and the management of Firestone Liberia.

Speaking on Friday, August 27, 2010, at a brief turning over ceremony of a new hand pump constructed recently by Firestone Liberia, Principal Mulbah Jackollie expressed gratitude to the management of the company for the gesture, stressing that "Few months ago, we expressed our need for water and Firestone did not take it lightly; they took it very serious. It wasn't too long we saw the team of technical people here trying to install this pump."

Mr. Jackollie also praised the technical team from the Water and Sanitation Section of the Engineering Department of Firestone- Liberia for the hard work and the prompt and efficient manner in which the work was done. He further extolled the Firestone team for the level of cooperation between it and the BWI administration during the course of the construction period on the main campus of the school in Kakata.

The BWI Principal also assured that the hand pump will be used for the intended purpose, saying "I'm sure that when the girls come back, they will see something strange in their environment; something that will be very meaningful in terms of giving them safe drinking water. We cherished the friendship with Firestone which is a long history that goes way back." Mr. Jackollie entertained the hope that the friendship will further be strengthened in the future.

The hand pump, which is located within the vicinity of the girls' dormitory on the school's campus, was part of the Community Outrage Program of Firestone Liberia.

The Manager for Information/ Communication of Firestone Liberia, Mr. Carlos W. Smith, who spoke on behalf of Management, described the partnership between the two entities as strategic and noted that the hand pump was one of the many development initiatives that Firestone has undertaken to bring meaningful development to the people of Liberia.

Mr. Smith also used the occasion to commend the Water and Sanitation Superintendent, Mr. Moses Coker and his fellow teammates for what he referred to as "Such a wonderful work here" on the campus of the Booker Washington Institute.

He further called on the BWI Family to accept the gesture of Firestone and assured that the doors of the company will remain open at all times and look forward to a continuous partnership with BWI.

The program was attended by other teammates of Firestone Liberia, as well as some senior members of the BWI faculty.

It can be recalled that Firestone Liberia some times ago, undertook similar hand pump project on the campus of the Mother of Jesus Christ Catholic High School in Dolo Town, Lower Margibi County.