Press Releases

USAID Rehabilitates  John F. Kennedy Building at Fourah Bay College

Freetown                                                               
May 25, 2007
Contact: USAID Christine Sheckler
Tel: 515-000

The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Thomas N. Hull, launched the rehabilitation of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Building commonly called the JFK Building, at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone.  The rehabilitation project, costing $220,000 (approximately Le 660,000,000), is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “As a result of this grant,” the Ambassador said, “the JFK building will soon be shining magnificently once again high above Freetown as a distinguished landmark, a center of excellence, and a symbol of the American commitment to Sierra Leone.”

USAID constructed and handed over the JFK Building to the FBC in 1963. The building was named in memory of the 35^th President of the United States of America who was assassinated the year the building was constructed. USAID’s assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) through donation to FBC at that time also included an additional faculty building and staff residences. USAID is proud to rehabilitate the building that it had originally built after over four decades of use for the building of the human capital of Sierra Leone.

United States foreign assistance to Sierra Leone promotes security, restores good governance through democratic policies and institutional reforms, and reconstructs the economy. USAID’s support to rehabilitating the JFK Building is one of many mechanisms it has employed to achieve US foreign assistance goals.  The goal of the project is two-fold: to enhance the learning environment at a tertiary level and to provide short-term youth employment opportunities.  As a host to departments and faculties that contribute to building a just, peaceful and democratic Sierra Leone through training and research, the JFK building will be a more conducive space for teaching and learning after the rehabilitation.

CARE Sierra Leone and Catholic Relief Services, are USAID’s implementing partners for this initiative. The rehabilitation will include such activities as cleaning, painting and scrapping the exterior walls and panels; painting, repairs and replacement of many doors, ceilings, windows and window panes; and some repairs of the toilets and water facilities and electrical fittings of the entire eight-story building.

The rehabilitation of the JFK Building will provide short term job opportunities for young men and women, with one third of the work force comprised of “unemployed youth.” This provision pursues the goals of the youth employment initiatives of both the GoSL and USAID.

The three-month rehabilitation project will commence June 2007.