TOGETHERNESS
One year ago, WTS joined with EduNations to kick off a campaign to build a dining hall in Sierra Leone for a Secondary School. I am pleased to share with you that the Dining Hall was dedicated this month.
This marks a significant milestone in the organization’s ongoing efforts to enhance the lives of children in Sierra Leone. This achievement was made possible by the overwhelming generosity of donors who participated in the Awojɔ campaign, a fundraising initiative to construct this much-needed facility.
Awojɔ, meaning “togetherness” in the local Temne language, perfectly captures the spirit of the campaign, as supporters from around the world united to make the dining hall a reality.
The children’s faces lit up with excitement and gratitude as they sat together, sharing a nutritious meal in the beautiful new space designed just for them. For many of these children, having a dedicated place to eat in safety and comfort is a luxury they had never experienced before. The Dining Hall now provides them not only with nourishment but with a sense of dignity and belonging.
EduNations President Samuel Sesay, addressing the attendees at the dedication ceremony, expressed how meaningful this achievement was for the community: “This Dining Hall is more than just a building. It’s a testament to the love and support of so many who believe in the future of these children. Our students now have a place where they can nourish their bodies and build relationships, and you can see the joy on their faces as they realize this is theirs.” Here is a link to the full story: https://www.edunations.org/messages/edunations-dedicates-dining-hall-thanks-awoj-campaign-donors
I return to this theme of Togetherness – the power we can harness by joining together, setting aside our differences, remaining curious and valuing each other. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a community of stakeholders where we are able to foster collaboration built on a sense of dignity and belonging.
In 2024, WTS continued to invest in the opportunity to service our stakeholders by bolstering our staff. We were very pleased to welcome the following individuals to the WTS team:
- Sam Pantuso, Account Developer, focused on the Mid-West.
- Kylee Ryan, Administrative Support, in our Lewiston office.
- Paul Quinn, Environmental Manager, focused on the Southeast.
- Angel Murillo, Environmental Manager, based out of our Tempe AZ office.
- David Hockenberry, IT Department, in our Lewiston office.
- Beth Petrie, Technical Service Representative, in our Lewiston office.
- Dennis Rammacher, Environmental Manager, in Western New York.
We are also pleased to be welcoming in 2025 our two latest additions as Edwin Moore will be an Environmental Manager in the Mid-Atlantic and Michael G. Oliver will be serving as our General Counsel.
A hardy welcome to all!
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish Carol Luzzi from our Administrative Support team the best of luck on her recent retirement. A sincere thank you to Carol for her many years of dedicated service.
