This month, our partners began construction on a junior secondary school in Lengekoro, a community in northern Sierra Leone. There is no junior secondary school nearby, so many students had to stop school after primary school because of obstacles including cost to stay in the community of nearest school and safety concerns of children living away from home. This community is dedicated to the continued education of their children and has worked hard to bring a junior secondary school to their community.

Originally, community members constructed a mud structure for the school, which blew down within one year and was beyond repair. Then, the community advocated for the secondary school to be able to use two classrooms of the primary school, which worked until the primary school grew and needed those classrooms. Now, the students are studying in a makeshift zinc-pan structure. Without a building to use, the community has approached our partners and asked for our help to build a strong, permanent junior secondary school structure.

Despite all the obstacles this community has faced in their efforts to have a place to educate their junior secondary school students, Lengekoro has still sent these students to sit the junior secondary school graduation exams since 2010, with a 100% pass rate. This community’s continued efforts to provide a place to learn in their community shows their determination to ensure ongoing education past primary school for their children within the safety of their community, which is less expensive for families and much safer for students, especially for girls.

A village that goes to these lengths to provide a makeshift structure for their children, and is prepared to provide land, locally available materials, and unskilled labor, is one that we like to partner with.

Thanks to a Bay Area family, a Colorado family, and a Maryland donor for making this school possible.