Attendance: 31 Members: 26 (of 47) 55% Guests: 5
Speaker: Taplima Muana and Paul Koroma Topic: Water Storage and Reticulation Project Sierra Leone
At our meeting on 25 August, we were fortunate to have a presentation from the Rotary Club of Bo in Sierra Leone. By the magic of technology Taplima Muana and Paul Koroma were beamed into our meeting via zoom. In the past couple of years, the Rotary Club of Glenferrie has completed two significant projects with the Rotary Club of Bo at the Aladura Primary School in Buedu in the far east of Sierra Leone.
The first project delivered two VIP (Ventilated Improved Pit) toilet blocks – one for girls and one for boys, and a WASH training program for teachers and students. The second project, which was the topic for this presentation involved constructing a water tower and reticulation system to provide clean drinking water to the school buildings and Toilets blocks for drinking and hard washing.
Taplima joined the Rotary Club of Bo five years ago and has since served in key leadership roles including President and is now Director of Membership. With a strong background in humanitarian and development work through World Vision and Plan International.
Paul joined the Rotary Club of Bo in 2009 and has held several leadership roles, including President and now Project Services Chair. He also led the construction of a dedicated hall supporting mothers at the Special Baby Care Unit of the Government Hospital in Bo.
Taplima outlined how the project has strengthened the school community and improved educational outcomes for children in this remote area. He secured strong local media coverage for the opening of the new facilities, with Africa Young Voices (AYV), the national television station, broadcasting the event. The broadcast was included in this video prepared by our club for the 2026 Changeover Dinner:
This publicity, combined with Taplima’s engagement with government officials, led to the Sierra Leone Government providing much‑needed funding for the school and support for teacher training.
In the second part of the presentation, the Rotary Club of Glenferrie outlined a proposed project to send a container of pre‑used medical equipment to the District Hospital in Bo and school supplies to the Aladura Primary School in Buedu. Taplima and Paul spoke about the benefits that this lifesaving medical equipment would provide to the hospital which serves the wider District.
Rotary Glenferrie is planning to get other Clubs from District 9800 involved in this project.