For nearly four years, Joanna Mattson had helped support SfS’s work in Sierra Leone from thousands of miles away in Seattle. As Schools for Salone’s (SfS) Finance and Business Information Manager, she had read reports and listened to countless stories about communities in the West African nation. However, nothing could have prepared her for her […]

The dust on the road to last mile communities in Koinadugu and Falaba districts rarely settles. It hangs heavy, a reminder of the distance: bad roads, no running water, no electricity, and the quiet, persistent grind of economic hardship. Most who can, leave. They chase the promise of bigger towns like Kabala or Freetown. But […]

In the quiet farming town of Musaia, far away from the busy streets of Kabala, a woman stands at the center of a growing movement for education. Her name is Zainab Sheku Marah, and she is the Head Mistress of the Movement of Faith Islamic Primary School. Marah was born in Mongor, but her education […]

Koromasilaia is a remote community to the northwest of Falaba District. The population is estimated at 1,500. Most families here are subsistence farmers who earn less than $2 a day. For years, children in Koromasilaia village had three choices if they wanted to attend senior secondary school: walk 14 miles each day, move away, or pay for transport to and from Kabala.

We are thrilled to share our 2024-2025 Impact Report, a comprehensive look at the incredible strides we’ve made in providing quality education to children in last-mile communities in Sierra Leone. This year marks our 20th anniversary, a significant milestone reflecting two decades of partnership, growth, and unwavering commitment. A Message from Our Executive Director, Allison […]

Growing up in Masanga, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, Lorna Bayoh’s childhood was marked by poverty and hardship. He was born in 1998 in Masanga, during a time when the scars of war were still visible, and families like his struggled every day to survive. 

A Year of Impact: Allison’s First Anniversary with 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 […]

It’s a bit early Tuesday morning, and I’m on a Zoom call with Cindy and David Harrison. The topic? Libraries, of course. But not just any libraries. We’re talking about Mamboma Library in Sierra Leone, a place that’s etched in their hearts. Their journey? It all started in 1968 when they landed in Freetown from […]

As the first quarter of the year comes to a close, Schools for Salone is nearing the completion of a new school building in Sierra Leone’s Northern Province. Here’s the latest update on the progress.