Tegloma Benefactor Talks to the Segbwema Blog

Mr. David Kolima Williams

Last weekend in the sprawling Texan metropolis of Houston, members of the Tegloma Federation International witnessed a rare case of major philanthropy when Mr. David Kolima Williams and his wife Mrs. Fatmatta Kamara Williams wrote a check for $10,000.00 (ten thousand dollars!) towards the construction of the proposed $300,000.00 multipurpose center in the southern regional capital city Bo. The Williams family donation was in reaction to an appeal from Tegloma Federation Board Chairman for members to start donating to a venture that was to finally move major Tegloma operations from USA to our home country Sierra Leone.

Mrs. Fatmatta Kamara Williams

The Segbwema blog decided to contact Mr.Williams and explore his motivation for making such a large award to the organization. Many other members contributed ranging from $1500,00.00 to $39.00, but the Williams family donation was far and away the most generous. Mr. Williams took time of his busy schedule to answer some questions posed to him by Sheku Sheriff (Segbwema Blogger)

Segbwema Blogger: David Kolima William, let me  first start by thanking you for your immense generosity.Many members have been generous to Tegloma in the past. People like Dr. Lansana Nyallay at one time used their own money to practically make this organization what it is today. But your is far away the greatest single donation ever made by a Sierra Leone national to Tegloma.

Tegloma Federation Executive

David Kolima Williams: I will begin by thanking “The Segbwema Blog” chief Editor and publisher, Mr. Sheku Sheriff for the huge undertaking of creating this communication medium that is available to everyone to share our views, knowledge and experience with the millions that read and react daily. When a member of Tegloma and specifically a southeasterner tell our story, we are in the best position to define who we are, our beliefs and the principles we stand for. Mr. Sheriff, do not relent, drag-in more people, mentor as many as possible, even those who may disagree with you.

Segbwema Blogger: Thanks for the sentiments, it is very important that we start telling our own stories. Mr. Williams the generosity displayed by you and your wife last Saturday shows your love for both the organization and your country. In Tegloma, we sometimes do not adequately appreciate good deeds and I believe the world should know about the generosity of your family 

Mr. and Mrs Williams

David Kolima Williams: Mr. Sheriff, the last word in your sentence is FAMILY. To the Tegloma family; I wish to say thank you, specifically the Dallas chapter that inspired me to render my input to the Bo land project. My wife Fatmatta Kamara Williams and I joined Tegloma immediately after the death of my younger brother Amos Williams in 2002. Late Amos was one of the first members to join Tegloma and I only came to know these facts through the sitting president Mr. Henry Gegbe who visited our home the very next day to announce the $2,500 donated towards Amos' funeral by the Dallas Tegloma chapter. By then the chapter had not adopted insurance for all members.

When an accident in 2007 left me paralyzed, my Tegloma family was by my side along with my church family. For 90 consecutive days, members visited me. My very good friend Dr. Joseph Moi Tejan an orthopedic surgeon literally intervened to force the hospital and Doctors to be more proactive  toward my surgery. The sitting president of Dallas Tegloma, Mr. Reuben Kinie Ndomahina, Vice President, Mrs. Josephine Lombeh Ladipo visited me in the hospital every single day without failure. Dallas members physically held vigil for days on ending outside my room door in the hospital not knowing if I will survive.

People, my question is; can I repay Tegloma enough, I don’t think so.

Segbwema Blogger: These are the type of stories you don't usually hear, as those who are not too familiar with Tegloma do not say many good things. This is refreshing. I also have my own experiences, but this is about you, so continue.

Tegloma Secretary General Amos Allie
Looking on

David Kolima Williams: My love and appreciation for this organization grew more over each passing year. But more importantly, the pride this organization has brought to the surface for all to see about the kind of people we are; is powerful. We are caring people, loyal and God fearing people. Our faith in Tegloma has kept us together for now 40 years, no other organization in the Diaspora is like us. It is a testament to the ideal we manifest when we meet and lament over the suffering of our people in Moyamba, Bo, Kenema, Tiama, and all over Sierra Leone. The need to foster our culture and pass it onto our children concerns us a great deal.

My mother and father, Late Rev. Benjamin Kolima Williams and Deborah Baby-Love Davis, a United Methodist pastor for 47 years serving in all of Moyamba district made me believe in the power of loving your fellow man. And one way to demonstrate that love is through service to the needs of others. Where I can, I must help, no matter how little. I must not wait till I have loaded my mouth full of food; then, render others some. But rather, give when you do not have enough, I saw my parents do that for the most part of my life. 

You might not be completely full, but will have joy and peace all around you, says my mother, always.

The Bo land project, when developed into a full operating center will be our pride and joy. It will make us stand tall. It will bring us more blessing as our children in Diaspora will pick up the mantle and continue in our footsteps. This is a tall order, I have no illusions , it is a major challenge but one we are capable of successfully handling.

Members Thanking the Williams Family

Segbwema Blogger: Well some disillusioned members usually ask what has Tegloma ever done for me. They should listen to you!

David Kolima Williams: When, you are in doughty and have the temptation to ask, what has Tegloma done for me?  Please, take a wide view of the landscape and see your position in this organization. You are on a stage coveted by many, offered the opportunity to make a difference. We the people from southeast Sierra Leone have succeeded in building this stage. Few people in Sierra Leone have been this successful. We are in the position to be the unifying force in our mother land. Your knowledge and skills are welcomed in Tegloma. Even when we argue and debate, we do it respectfully providing a venue whereby you come to know your strengths and weaknesses and learn and grow from them. I pray and hope our members will see the need to speed up our development.

Segbwema Moi: Can you advise on how we can continue to raise money for this enormous project?

Board Chairman and Houston President
With the Williams Family

David Kolima Williams: We can raise more money for our project by reaching out to non Sierra Leoneans, many of whom have visited our country or heard of our plight. Let us allow them to buy into our dream. We must contemplate naming buildings and specific work shop rooms after Americans, Europeans and other African nationals willing to be our partners.

I pray for someone to increase the challenge by giving twice the amount my wife and I donated. Where possible, ask Tegloma to raise a huge amount, say $80,000, then matched by a donation and name a recreation park after him or her or family. Are chapters willing to step to the plate and make donations say $20,000 to be paid over three year period that will give them naming rights to specific conference rooms.

Let us device concrete plans and appeal to corporations to make donations to our project including those that already operate in Sierra Leone

Segbwema Blogger

Encourage work teams including our children to labor on the Bo land site. Our physical presence must be felt amongst our people, not only our money sent from afar. I believe in our strength. Our determination will take us there, let us make it soon.

Long Live Tegloma

David Kolima Williams

Amos Allie Explaining Bo Land Project

Segwema Blogger: Thank Mr Williams and your wife. May there be many more like you.