Welcome to the Annie Walsh Memorial School Old Girls Association (AWOGA) web site. This site aims to bring together past students of the AWMS from across the diaspora.

Please join our newsletter to be informed of news and upcoming AWOGA events in your area.

Annie Walsh Old Girls Association (AWOGA) NY/NJ Chapter Newsletter - December 2006

Brief History of the Annie Walsh Memorial School

In 1816, the Anglican Church Missionary Society opened a small private school for girls in the mountainside village of Charlotte in Sierra Leone with only eight students on the roll. The school began with a vision to educate and train young African girls in pursuit of excellence in all areas, including high academic performance, sound discipline and a solid Christian foundation.

Annie Walsh, for whom the school is named, was a young English girl whose dream was to work in Africa as a missionary. Sadly, she died in a tragic accident before fulfilling her dream.

Her parents established the Annie Walsh Memorial Fund which was added to monies collected by the Christian Missionary Society of the Anglican Church and used to erect the first school buildings.

The School's Mission

To train young African girls in pursuit of excellence in all areas, including high academic performance, sound discipline and a solid Christian foundation.

Annie Walsh garden

Academic excellence has been one of the major thrusts of the School over the years. For example, the following 'firsts' in the country are products of the school.

• The 1st girl to gain the full Cambridge School Certificate in West Africa (1928): Ethel Thomas (Ashwood)
• The 1st female Bachelor of Arts from Fourah Bay College: Lati Hyde-Forster
• The 1st female Medical Doctor: Irene Wellesley-Cole (Ighodaro)
• The 1st female Barrister-at-Law: Stella Thomas (Marke)
• The 1st female Astronautical Engineer: Estelle Coker (Eke)