Because Education Equals Opportunity

Because Education
Equals Opportunity

Cindy Nofziger served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone from 1985-1987 at Masanga Leprosy Hospital in Tonkolili District. During that time, she befriended John Sesay. Those years in Sierra Leone and her lifelong friendship with John sparked the initial vision for Schools for Salone

Sierra Leone (also known as ‘Salone’) is a small country in West Africa. Torn apart by civil war and more recently by Ebola, the country is working hard to reclaim a hopeful future.

Today it is estimated that 70 percent of Sierra Leoneans live in poverty. Of all regions, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of education exclusion. Nearly one in three children in the median country does not complete primary school, and three in five fail to complete lower secondary.

Access to high-quality primary education is a globally-recognized solution to the cycle of poverty. For students who experienced trauma as the result of war, poverty, natural disasters, education restores a sense of connection and school provides a safe place to learn.

EDUCATION ACCESS
PARTNER & SPONSORS

Schools for Salone’s success comes from building strong partnerships. Through our collaboration with these organizations, we are able to improve lives in Sierra Leone by expanding access to education.

Building Schools Partner: Programme for Children

Programme for Children (PFC) is our in-country partner who manages school construction and support programs in Sierra Leone. Since 1980, Joseph Williams Lamin and PFC have constructed over 65 schools, countless latrines and water wells, and provided scholarships for thousands of children to go to school. It is Joseph and his remarkable PFC team’s determination and dedication to empowering children, teachers, and women that drives our success in Sierra Leone.

Training Teachers Partner: The Learning Foundation

Schools for Salone partners with The Learning Foundation in Sierra Leone to provide reading programs in schools and libraries to improve literacy and learning engagement. The Learning Foundation works with students, teachers, librarians, and specifically girls in junior secondary school. These programs target girls and low performing students to narrow the gap in achievement and retention.

Empowering Students Partner: Uman Tok

Uman Tok, Krio for Woman Talk, is run by a strong team of women in Sierra Leone dedicated to empowering women and girls through reproductive health education and access to sustainable, hygienic menstruation kits. Uman Tok employs local women to produce Days for Girls kits, distributes them to girls in our schools, and makes them available to other women and girls through a network of organizations.