NTT DATA UK&I and our charity partner, Street Child, recently came together to mark our construction of a secondary school in a remote Sierra Leone village – providing educational opportunities for hundreds of children. The celebrations began with a breakfast meeting, where staff learned how the school is taking shape and heard from senior executives, fundraising leads and the Street Child CEO.
Opening the morning, Mark Devonshire, COO of NTT DATA UK&I, set out the purpose of the event: “This morning is a time to reflect on what’s been achieved; to pause and say ‘thank you’ to all of you; and to kick off what we’re going to do for the next year.” NTT DATA UK&I has been in partnership with Street Child for eighteen months, during which time colleagues and supporters have driven a wide range of fundraising activities across the business.
Jane Spriggs, Head of NTT DATA’s Charity Network, recently visited Sierra Leone to join Street Child’s fundraising marathon and see first-hand how the project is progressing. A new village well is operational and the school is nearing completion; but during her visit, Jane identified a new goal for fundraising. While most village children are able to attend the primary school, some families can’t afford the £10 cost of school uniforms and books. The issue underscored a wider challenge: Street Child and NTT DATA can build the school, but that doesn’t necessarily ensure access to education for the poorest families.
Street Child CEO Tom Dannatt also highlighted the importance of reducing the everyday pressures that prevent children from enrolling or staying in school, reinforcing why the next stage of the partnership will focus on items that support attendance. Local families feel great shame at their inability to fund uniforms and schoolbooks: “They know they are not doing what they should be doing, and that doesn’t feel good,” he said. “What NTT DATA has enabled is the chance for them to change that.”
He added that there will be continued investment in teaching quality and support that reduces barriers to education and strengthens learning outcomes over time. “I love the fact that this is a very genuine partnership,” he added, reflecting on the enthusiasm and commitment with which NTT DATA staff had pitched into the fundraising activities. “People are really excited about something that is meaningful and tangible.”
The session closed with a short film showing the latest footage from Jane’s visit, giving colleagues a clear sense of how the project is progressing. With construction reaching its final stages, NTT DATA’s next fundraising goal will centre on providing uniforms and essential learning materials for pupils who would otherwise struggle to attend. This support will help the new school operate effectively and create the conditions for local children to progress through their education with greater confidence.
The momentum of this project continued this week with a fundraising dinner held at MASALA Brick Lane: at the NTT DATA Leadership Team Restaurant, senior executives donned aprons bought by Jane in Sierra Leone and served curries and Kingfishers to their hungry staff. The dinner brought together more than one hundred attendees and raised a further £4,000, supporting the building’s completion, learning support services, and access to education for the poorest families.
This latest effort reflects the ongoing commitment across NTT DATA UK&I to support the Mandinboh village community as the school moves towards full operation.
For just £10, Street Child can provide a child with the uniform and books required for them to attend school. To donate, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nttdataxstreetchild25-26charitypartnership