A Year of Impact: Allison’s First Anniversary with Schools for Salone

Allison Sinning, Executive Director of Schools for Salone

It has been just over a year since Allison joined Schools for Salone (SfS) as Executive Director, and what a transformative year it has been! From strengthening vital relationships with our partners in Sierra Leone to deeply engaging with our dedicated donors and relentlessly working to enhance education outcomes, Allison’s first year offers an inspiring look into the successes and lessons of education service delivery in Sierra Leone.

Key Highlights from Allison’s First Year:

Allison Sinning meeting SfS partners

• Deepening Partner Relationships: Allison prioritized building close relationships with our partners and their staff, making a crucial trip to Sierra Leone early in her tenure. This commitment to in-person connection has been instrumental in fostering strong collaboration and understanding.
• Insights into Donor Engagement: Allison is deeply impressed by our donor community’s engagement and long-standing support. She applauds Cindy’s role in cultivating such a thriving and passionate community, especially appreciating their willingness to ask challenging questions that help SfS continuously improve.
• Improving Education Outcomes at the Last Mile: A core lesson for Allison has been the paramount importance of effective teachers. While teacher pay remains a challenge, SfS and its partners are actively exploring innovative strategies for teacher retention and professional development to ensure sustained impact in the classroom.

A New Approach to Field Visits:

Allison with some SfS partners

Allison’s recent trip to Sierra Leone marked a significant shift. Instead of a rapid tour of schools, she dedicated her time to in-depth, face-to-face meetings with partner organizations in Freetown. This approach allowed for deeper conversations about their visions, challenges, and future strategic plans, fostering a truly collaborative environment. As Juliet at Uman Tok noted, “one person can’t make the world sweet,” encapsulating the essence of SfS’s partnership model.

Collaborative Successes and Future Plans:

These joint engagements have led to exciting new initiatives, including:

• Cross-Partner Collaboration: Plans are underway for Program For Children (PFC) and Clinton to assist The Learning Foundation (TLF) with teacher monitoring and literacy training, and for TLF, PFC, and Clinton to collaborate on understanding teacher syllabus utilization.
• Addressing Critical Needs: Uman Tok is exploring a robust assessment of school water and sanitation facilities to better support girls’ education, especially concerning reusable menstrual pads.
• Capacity Building: Partners expressed keen interest in professional development, particularly in monitoring and evaluation and effective social media strategies, which SfS plans to explore offering.
• Prioritizing Rural Communities: Discussions reinforced the commitment to making programs effective in hard-to-reach rural areas, where the impact on forgotten children is immense.

Optimism for the Future:

Allison in a picture with some SfS partners and Senior Advisor, Cindy Nofziger

Despite global funding challenges, Allison returned from Sierra Leone feeling incredibly inspired and motivated. She was particularly impressed by the partners’ focused ideas for scaling their work or deepening their impact without veering from their core missions. This strategic clarity, coupled with SfS’s stable funding and direct connections to school communities, positions the organization to continue making a significant difference.

We are incredibly proud of Allison’s dedication and leadership during her first year. Her efforts have further strengthened our foundation and renewed our optimism for the future of education in Sierra Leone. We invite our donor community to continue supporting our vital work and partner organizations as we move forward with these impactful plans!