On Day 9 of the volunteers’ trip to the Republic of Guinea, the team continued their efforts to support education and community development in Dubreka. The day began at 9am, with the group heading to the URBOND Training Centre to prepare for a visit from Maxton Milner, the Deputy Head of Mission in Dubreka. The agenda was packed with activities, including a guided tour of URBOND’s facilities, dental hygiene workshops, a Coaches Basketball camp, and a football event promoting child education.

At 9:15am, Maxton Milner and the Embassy staff arrived at the URBOND Training Centre, where they were warmly welcomed by the volunteers. The tour included visits to the training centre and the basketball court. A key highlight was the head teacher’s office, constructed by URBOND, where the delegation met with school staff to discuss the organisation’s impact on children’s education in Dubreka since 2019.

By 10am, the group visited the sewing centre, where URBOND has been making significant strides in producing sanitary pads. This initiative is crucial, as many women and girls in Guinea lack access to menstrual products, a situation that often prevents young girls from attending school. The visit provided the Embassy team with insights into the project’s future growth, reinforcing the belief that this initiative will be transformative for many girls and women in the community.

Following the sewing centre tour, Maxton, the Embassy staff, and the URBOND team met with local authorities. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss URBOND’s ongoing projects, and the General expressed his gratitude for the organisation’s continued support of vulnerable children in Dubreka.

A poignant moment of the day came when the group visited Dubreka port. This location holds significance as the spot where many young people cross the river by boat to reach school. Tragically, some have lost their lives in the process, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by children in the region. URBOND’s initiative to build a new school in Koutaya aims to alleviate these dangers and provide a safer path to education.

At 11:30am, volunteers returned to the centre to deliver dental hygiene workshops to teachers and parents. The day’s goal was to train 100 peaoe in dental care and provide them with the knowledge so they can carry on delivering to the children. By addressing basic hygiene needs we are helping remove barriers that prevent children from feeling comfortable in school and fully engaging in their education.

The day concluded with a football exhibition match at 5pm, held to raise awareness about the importance of education for children. This event is central to URBOND’s mission, emphasising that sustainable community development relies on access to education for all.

Overall, Day 9 was another impactful day in the volunteers’ journey, as they worked alongside local authorities, educators, and the community to create lasting change.