British School launches Japian Stevens Award
History has a way of changing some of its judgments over time about people and events. Even after one year of Japian Stevens death, the son of Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Germany, Jongopie S. Stevens, there is no reason to believe that he is finally gone. Renowned for his exemplary life and astounding character, the late Japian remains an everlasting legacy for both his parents and Alma mater, the Berlin British School (BBS) in Germany. (Photo: Mrs Schutz describing the award)
The embodiment of his good character into a yearly award to commemorate his death by the Berlin British School is a certification to that. According to the Head of the School, Mr. Graham Lacey, there are many ways to celebrate Japian Stevens life. One of them he said is the Japian Stevens Award 2012, organized by the school for the best student with high academic standards and outstanding records. He maintained that, the reason for such criteria is based on the implausible and splendid performance of Japian Steven’s school work and sporting activities.
A cross section of the BBS pupils
The Secondary School head, Mrs Sian Schutz, described the award as the flames of Japian, depicting the hands of friendship. She emphasized the remarkable work of Japian, and expressed condolences to the family and friends of Japian for the great loss.
Japian’s English teacher, Mrs Leah Ottewill, read the compelling and emotional power of his work which left the audience shrouded in grief. It was an essay he (Japian) wrote in comparison with the fortunes accumulated by footballers in the world, which he believed is not commensurate to that earned by medical doctors whose responsibilities are to save the lives of the people.
Ambassador Stevens and his wife, presenting the carved African woman
Responding to the School’s memorable and historic event, Ambassador Stevens on behalf of his wife Georgiana Stevens, thanked the BBS for their compassion and support in commemorating the death of his son, particularly with the Japian Stevens Award 2012. He expressed their deepest love for Japian, saying that his death is a great loss to the family.
In appreciation of the School’s endeavour to his son’s death, Ambassador Stevens donated a monument of an African woman to the School, carrying a wooden pot on her head, and a baby on her back. He further assured the school that they will continue to be in touch in memory of their son even after their mission is accomplished in Germany
While this year’s award was given to Christopher Dudley, a tribute was later read by Japian’s closest friend Tendai, who also received the COBIS AWARD for the traumatic experience he went through as a result of his friend’s death.
By Umaru S. Jah
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