Schools for Salone (SfS) is celebrating 19 years of impact under the visionary leadership of Cindy Nofziger, the founder and current executive director. To mark the occasion the Seattle-based non-profit is hosting a benefit dinner to thank its community of supporters. Cindy will also transition to a new role and welcome her successor.

The dinner will take place on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 4:30 PM at the Metropolist: 2931 1st Avenue South, Suite A, Seattle, WA. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here; https://shorturl.at/MzQPo  

The theme for this year’s celebration, “Building Brighter Futures” reflects the organization’s commitment to creating a brighter future for the communities it serves in Sierra Leone.

Purpose of The Schools for Salone Annual Fundraising Dinner

SfS hosts an annual fall fundraising event to connect with supporters and donors in the community. This year’s dinner is the first in two years and will be giving supporters an update to the organization’s activities so far. 

The event raises funds to support activities for the following year as SfS provides holistic solutions to improve education in Sierra Leone. 

SfS stands out because it works hand-in-hand with local organizations. SfS raises the money, sends them to local organizations to support their programs, and monitors progress. 

Unlike many organizations that focus on one aspect of education, SfS takes a comprehensive approach. They work on girls’ education, school building, teachers training, literacy and providing learning materials to school children. 

SfS has developed a system through local partnerships to increase access to quality education. They offer reusable sanitary pads and reproductive education, reducing teenage pregnancy rates to zero in participating schools. 

They also sponsor teacher certification programs and literacy education for educators. Additionally, they supply school materials and bicycles for students in rural areas. 

Newsletters and other materials were used to update supporters on SfS activities. However, this year’s dinner will showcase developments from the past two years. 

Vickie Remoe, SfS board member and keynote speaker for the event, emphasized the need to communicate the NGO’s activities to their donors. 

“All this work is made possible through individual donations as well as funding from foundations. It’s critical to the work that we do and always make sure that the people who support our work know that the funds that they donate are really making an impact,” she said. 

Speakers at this Year’s Schools for Salone Fundraising Dinner

This year’s dinner will feature three distinguished speakers: Allison Sinning, Cindy Nofziger, and Vickie Remoe. Each speaker brings a wealth of experience and unique perspectives, offering insights and inspiration. 

Cindy Nofziger: Cindy is the founder and current Executive Director of SfS. After serving in the US Peace Corps in Sierra Leone from 1985 to 1987, she developed a deep connection to the country. She returned in 2004 to start SfS. With 19 years of experience in non-profit organization management, Cindy excels in philanthropy, policy analysis, youth development, volunteer management, and public speaking. The event will honor her as she transitions to a new role within the organization and passes the baton to her successor. 

Allison Sinning: Allison served in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone from 2010-2012. Shehas experience working with NGOs and social services such as the Peace Corps Liberia, Lutheran Social Services of SD, EmBe, and SfS. Allison  is passionate about education, civil rights and social action, among others. As the current Programs Officer at SfS, she coordinates projects and activities within the organization. 

Vickie Remoe: Vickie has served as an SfS board member since 2022. She first learned about the organization in 2011 during an interview with Madieu Williams and has followed its work since then. A proud Sierra Leonean woman, Vickie is dedicated to promoting her country and runs the Make Sierra Leone Famous podcast to that end. She also owns VR&C Marketing, a leading digital communications firm in West Africa, serving clients across the region and in the diaspora. Through SfS, Vickie helps mobilize resources to support education and the wellbeing of children in Sierra Leone.  

Those who can not attend can still make a donation using the same link. Your support will help SfS reach their fundraising goals for the upcoming year. 

About Schools For Salone

Founded two decades ago, Schools for Salone has become a beacon of hope in addressing educational inequalities in Sierra Leone. The NGO has built 44 schools, providing thousands of marginalized children access to education in the country. As another academic year begins, 16,500 students are set to return to Schools for Salone supported institutions, eager to learn and grow despite the challenges they face at home. 

On November 14, our community came together to celebrate our partners in Sierra Leone at the Virtual Watch Party, and it was a delight! In case you missed it, Here’s a quick roundup. And better still, you can watch the recording of the watch party right now.

The Watch Party was hosted by Vickie Remoe, a Sierra Leonean journalist and Schools for Salone board member.

There were five highlights. Vickie explained how Schools for Salone continues to expand quality education through radically collaborative local partnerships. We then played five inspiring short films featuring Sierra Leonean education experts who lead SF’s project delivery. Each film spotlighted one School for Salone partner: Programme for Children, Uman Tok, Sierra Leone Book Trust, Clinton Caulker, and the Learning Foundation. Then, we were honored to have Nathan Jerome give a short talk about why the McPherson Family Foundation continues to give generously to support teaching training and innovation.

He was followed by Kimberly Burn, who shared beautiful anecdotes about how women who have fallen on hard times are getting a new lease on life thanks to the jobs provided by Uman Tok’s menstrual kit sewing factory in Freetown. She said that Uman Tok’s impact is twofold; it empowers girls regarding their reproductive health and women’s livelihoods.

The watch party ended with a short Q&A, and audience members shared how insightful the watch party had been.

Vickie closed the watch party with an ask—that members of the Schools for Salone community donate to help us meet our goal to raise $100,000 by the end of 2023.

Next year, like every year for the past 19 years, Schools for Salone will continue its mission to expand access to quality education to children in last-mile communities and city schools in need. Please join us by making a gift today.

Schools for Salone, the Seattle-based not-for-profit expanding education access to last-mile communities in Sierra Leone, will host a virtual watch party to highlight their partners. The fundraiser open to all friends of Sierra Leone and education champions is on November 14th, 2023. You’re invited to register now via Zoom.

In partnership with local community development and education experts such as Programme for Children, Uman Tok, Sierra Leone Book Trust, Kabala Area Schools, and the Learning Foundation, mobilize resources that make an impact. 

We’re proud to share that we’ve constructed 45 school buildings, 40 septic toilets, 25 wells, and three libraries. To date, we’ve produced and distributed 750,000 dignity kits with reusable menstrual pads to girls and community women and trained 150 teachers. The virtual event will showcase the unsung heroes working tirelessly to bring education to every corner of the country, from bustling city centers to the most remote areas.

There will be a screening of a short documentary that spotlights Schools for Salone’s radically collaborative, partner-led, and community-focused programs. It’s not just a film; it’s a journey through the stories of resilience, hope, and transformation.

But that’s not all; staff and board members of Schools for Salone will provide live updates. Have burning questions? This is your chance! Participate in the Q&A session and get insights from the people on the front lines of positive change.

Save the date November 14th and mark your calendars for 6:30 PM PST | 9:30 PM EST | 1:30 AM GMT (on the 15th). RSVP today for the virtual watch party here. Gather your friends, family, and colleagues for a night of inspiration and impact.