The Vine International School (TVIS) is in one of the poorest communities in the Waterloo Rural District on the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Hastings community is plagued with chronic poverty, little educational support, low literacy rate, very limited socio-economic opportunities and educational services. Therefore, educational needs are rarely supported in this community coupled with difficult living conditions in the country. Hence, a school that has been operating for twelve years in the community ceased operations in 2016.
In 2021, we were asked to support the maintenance and acquisition of a dilapidated school abandoned for five years in Hastings community. After the renovation and before the reopening of the school; the name ‘The Vine International School (TVIS) was adopted with the motto “After All There Is God”. Our resolution of operation is that The Vine International School will be operated on the Principles of the Christian Faith.
The Vine International School is seeking to provide opportunities that would improve the educational standards for nursery, primary and secondary school children in the community providing scholarships and donations of school materials to vulnerable students. We aim to keep every school-going child in the classroom. In other words, ‘No child is returned home for learning materials.’ This gesture can improve their condition and create a perfect solution for every child in the community to have a brighter future. We provide quality academic education, vocational, leadership and skills development programs.
This feat could not have been possible had it not been for the sake of a Scottish man, Dr. Keith Thomson, (belated) who helped save the lives of our family and facilitated our escape from war in our own country and eventually migrated to Australia and our being in Australia is allowing us to support this community with a school. To God be the Glory!
The school is located at 128 Queens Street, Hastings, Rogbangba, Waterloo Rural District in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Presently, the school has 67 students from nursery to Junior Secondary School and 10 qualified teachers.