Every year, thousands of girls in rural and last-mile communities in Sierra Leone face a common but devastating challenge: they can’t afford menstrual products, and cultural taboos make periods a topic shrouded in silence.

An estimated 500 million people lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual health worldwide, and women in Sierra Leone are not spared. For many of these women, this means missing school, feeling ashamed, or using unhygienic materials that pose health risks.

With over 50,000 pads manufactured and distributed since 2020, Uman Tok, a women-led initiative in partnership with Schools for Salone, is changing the narrative. They provide sexual and reproductive health education, reusable pads, and menstrual hygiene kits to girls and women. 

The Harsh Reality of Period Poverty in Sierra Leone

Period poverty affects girls and women across different generations in Sierra Leone. Even for the Uman Tok team members, Juliet Rhoman, Mariatu Marley Yateh, Aminata Senesie, and Pastor Melvina, the challenges they faced in their adolescence due to a lack of period education and menstrual resources remain vivid memories. 

Juliet, Uman Tok’s Executive Director and a passionate menstrual health educator, recalls that she had no prior knowledge of menstruation when she got her first period. Her peers would wash their menstrual rags and hide them under their beds to dry. This reinforced the stigma surrounding periods, and when she had her first period, she did not know how to tell her elder sister, who lived in the same boarding house. 

“That negative experience I had when I got my period, the silence around it, not knowing how to take care of myself is why I am passionate about this job educating women on how to overcome menstruation challenges,” Juliet highlighted. 

Juliet Rhoman

Mariatu, the Sexual Reproductive Health Facilitator at Uman Tok, had a similar experience. She got her first period on sports day at school. “My mum told me not to attend; I was in SSS1 by then. I didn’t listen to her and went to school. Just after my first race, I wanted to pee. I went to pee but saw blood instead. I screamed, and I cried,” she said. 

She ran home and told her dad. Mariatu thought her body was punishing her for defying her mother’s instructions. Her father reassured her that menstruation was natural, but the fear and confusion she felt that day remained with her. 

Mariatu Yateh

For Aminata, an Administrator and Finance Officer at Uman Tok, growing up in a farming community in Bonthe District meant limited access to menstrual products. She thought she was wounded when she noticed blood while working on the farm. Her mother tore a piece of cloth to use as a makeshift pad and instructed her to dry it away from the male sight- a common practice in rural areas where menstruation is shrouded in secrecy.

Aminata Senesie

Pastor Melvina, one of the ladies who sews reusable pads, had a different story. Her mother had educated her about menstruation before it started, sparing her from fear and confusion. As a mother of four girls, she understands the financial burden of buying disposable pads. 

Pastor Melvina

Their experiences with period poverty and the lack of education surrounding menstruation have fueled their passion for working with Uman Tok. Each of these women understands firsthand the fear, confusion, and challenges that come with the lack of reproductive and sexual education. 

They ensure that the next generation of girls do not suffer in silence. Through their work, they are sparing young girls from the harsh realities they once faced and empowering them with knowledge, dignity, and access to proper menstrual care. 

Juliet Rhoman (far left), Mariatu Yateh (left), Aminata Senesie (right), and Pastor Melvina (far right)

Uman Tok’s Solution to Period Poverty? Dignity, Education, and Access.

Recognising that a lack of menstrual education contributes to school dropouts and early pregnancies, Uman Tok took action. 

Since 2020, they have manufactured and distributed 50,000 reusable pad kits, reaching 25,000 students with sexual and reproductive health education. This has allowed many young people access to puberty and menstrual management information. 

Uman Tok’s reusable kits are designed to last three years, significantly reducing families’ financial burden. “With proper care, they can even last longer,” Juliet explains. 

More importantly, the initiative doesn’t stop at students. Mothers, aunties, and community leaders also receive kits and education, breaking the generational cycle of period stigma. 

Beyond distribution, Uman Tok ensures that its kits are produced in hygienic conditions. This commitment to quality ensures that the pads are safe, comfortable, and reliable for users. 

Support the Campaign to End Period Poverty in Sierra Leone 

Since 2020, Schools for Salone(SfS) has been Uman Tok’s primary resource mobilization partner. Through its annual fundraising campaigns, SfS raises funds to cover operational costs, reproductive health education, and pad production at Uman Tok.  

Each term, Uman Tok (supported by SfS) delivers these essential resources to schools across the Western Area, Koinandugu, Falaba, and Tonkolili districts, ensuring that more girls can stay in school and manage their periods with dignity. 

But Uman Tok’s work is more than just providing pads; it’s about restoring dignity, confidence, and equal opportunities for women and girls. By tackling both the economic and cultural barriers of menstruation, they are making it possible for girls to stay in school and women to manage their periods with confidence. 

Juliet says, “Uman Tok’s business is everyone’s business.” 

When we ensure that menstruation is no longer a source of shame or disadvantage, we empower an entire generation of women to thrive.

This Women’s Month, Uman Tok calls for support to continue its vital work. Providing education and sustainable menstrual solutions is addressing poverty and rewriting the future for countless girls and women in Sierra Leone. 

Imagine 50,000 more girls like Juliet, Mariatu, and Aminata, whose lives will be transformed by receiving a reusable pad kit and essential education. 

Please donate to help Uman Tok create more menstrual kits and help girls and women escape period poverty. 

DONATE HERE.

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. 

When the Lengekoro Senior Secondary School (SSS) opens in April, it will be the 17th high school in Koinadugu District in the Northern Province. Koinadugu has one of the worst learning outcomes and secondary school completion in Sierra Leone. 

Challenges to Secondary School Enrollment in Koinadugu

While primary school enrollment is as high as 68,000 students, it is just about 6,000 students in the secondary level. Poverty and teenage pregnancy affect low secondary enrollment, as does access to secondary schools. 

When Lengekoro started its SSS in 2024, it had a thatched roof. Still, the community doubled down on education to ensure that those who had completed Junior Secondary School (JSS) would not drop out. 

Overcoming Makeshift Conditions

“In this thatched building, during the rains, we cannot keep normal classes,” said Foday J. Mansaray, Lengekoro JSS & SSS’ Principal. Even with this challenging makeshift building, Lengekoro SSS enrollment has grown. From 42 students when they opened to 87 pupils today. 

We are grateful to long-time Schools for Salone donors Sean and Diana Mulligan, who, inspired by Lengekoro’s commitment to education, funded the new secondary school building and soccer field. 

Sean and Diana Mulligan’s Contribution Fuels Progress

“We started supporting SfS with a basic desire to support access to education in Sierra Leone. We soon realised we were connected with a lean, decisive-oriented NGO (SfS) that puts most of its contributions into action. It is rewarding to give when you see so much contribution immediately and directly benefit many children,” Sean and Diana Mulligan. 

Impact of the New School

With community participation at an all-time high, the school, which began construction in January, is already at the roofing stage. 

For years to come, students will complete all 12 years of basic and secondary education in Lengekoro without walking five or more kilometers to school daily. Your support of our programs, no matter how small, uplifts communities in need-a little goes a long way.  

Koinadugu and Lengekoro JSS Statistics

Koinadgu School enrollment: Primary School-68,353 students. JSS-15, 645 students/ SSS-5950 students. Source- Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School 2022 Annual School Census

Lengekoro JSS was built in 2022. Since its opening, 450 students have attended the school. 260 students enrolled in JSS and SSS classes with 15 teachers. The first students to complete their secondary school education in Lengekoro will graduate in the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Donate to Schools For Salone 

Schools for Salone, founded in 2005, expands access to quality education in Sierra Leone. Beginning by rebuilding schools destroyed in the civil war, they have grown to train teachers, build sanitation facilities, and support girls’ education. Based in Seattle, they partner with Sierra Leoneans to complete construction projects in three months and provide ongoing support for 47 schools and three libraries. Please donate to support Schools for Salone’s Mission. Click HERE to donate and improve access to education.  

Pupils of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) secondary school in Makali, Konike Chiefdom in northern Sierra Leone, gathered at their school compound. 

They were accompanied by their parents, who sang a welcome song to the guests as Programme for Children (PFC) and Schools for Salone (SfS), in partnership with the Village Bicycle Project (VBP), distributed 100 bicycles. PFC is a long-time SfS partner that oversees the schools in Tonkolili, Bo, and Western Area Districts.

“The initiative is to reduce the pupils’ commuting time and get them to school early,” said George K. Fawundu, PFC Program Manager.  

Teachers also benefited from the distribution.

From Makali, SfS and VPB went to Maforeka and Robis, where they distributed 50 bikes at each school  to both pupils and teachers.

School pupils in Maforeka waiting to receive their bikes

Students Walk Long Distances to Get to School 

Some pupils of the SDA school live about three miles away from the school. This six-mile round trip is a challenging distance for any child to commute to school. In previous years, some have had to drop out due to their inability to commute daily to school. 

The principal of SDA, Joseph Brima Tholley, described the bicycle distribution as “a great gesture” and “a relief to parents and children.”

School authorities say commuting through distances puts girls, in particular, at risk. 

Isatu Bangura used to walk three miles to school, something she found very tiring and time-consuming. With her new bicycle, she hopes things will get better.

“This bike will help me get to school early,” said Bangura. “It will also improve my overall experience.”

Mohamed Fofanah, who lives four miles away and has been coming to school late, said the bicycle will improve his punctuality.

Adama Sesay is one of the parents whose children benefited from the project. She expressed excitement, stating that what she used to spend on covering transportation costs would now be spent elsewhere. 

From left to right: Beneficiaries Mohamed Fofanah, Isatu Bangura and Principal John Brima Tholley.

The Impact of Free Education  

The Free Quality School Education program led to increased enrolment in public schools. There has been a corresponding increase in infrastructure and facilities, but schools are still crowded.  

An estimated one million children are now in school. SfS has been supporting education in the country through teacher training and providing them with school materials. SDA’s principal, Tholley appreciates SfS’s relentless support, particularly in helping them with essential materials they can’t afford.

Watch Schools for Salone’s visit to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) secondary school in Makali HERE.

Unloading truck with bikes in Maforeka

About Village Bicycle Project

The Village Bicycle Project is being implemented by Programme for Children (PFC) in Tonkolili  with PFC’s Programme Manager, Mannah, overseeing all school related activities in Tonkolili and Bo. 

The project aims to transform communities by strengthening bicycle culture. Their programs combine subsidized bicycles with maintainers training for new owners. They give bike mechanics detailed training, standard bike tools, and spare parts.

This all-round approach guarantees dependability, affordability, and sustainability during transportation. Women and girls are the primary beneficiaries of the bicycles, ensuring inclusion.

VBP programs make cycling an attractive choice for entire communities, as improved mobility enables growth in productivity with better access to jobs, schools, and healthcare, not to mention the environmental and health benefits of cycling. 

In term 1, approximately 240 bicycles were distributed across schools in Koinadugu and Falaba, and more bikes are set to reach SfS school communities in term 2. 

Abdul Karim of Village Bicycle Project holding a bike maintenance session with beneficiary students in Mafereka

About Schools for Salone

Schools for Salone was founded two decades ago. The organization has since become a beacon of hope in addressing educational inequalities in Sierra Leone. In partnership with five Sierra Leone organisations, SfS has built 44 schools and provided thousands of children with access to education.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, 8,500 pupils returned to Schools for Salone-supported institutions amidst several challenges.

Some teachers in Buma

Schools for Salone (SfS), a Seattle-based non-profit dedicated to supporting education in Sierra Leone, is intervening to support uncertified teachers in rural communities who work without being paid through its latest initiative. 

These teachers volunteer and work tirelessly in rural community schools to help alleviate education inequality. However, they do not have government support. SfS recognizes their sacrifice and aims to address these issues. 

Challenges Created by the FQEP

In 2018, the Sierra Leone government launched the Free Quality Education Programme (FQEP). The program aimed to make education accessible by covering feeding, school uniforms, tuition fees, exercise, and textbook fees for pre-primary, primary, and secondary school pupils. 

While this was a significant step towards educational equity as it gave children from different backgrounds an equal opportunity to have education, it produced some new hurdles, one of them being the provision of teachers to cater to the increased number of students in schools. 

With the growing number of school children in Sierra Leone, the demand for teachers has increased significantly. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is unable to fund the salaries required to hire additional teachers. 

To address the gap, SfS is stepping in to support uncertified teachers by sponsoring them through the distance learning program. This will help the teachers gain the necessary certification, which will not only enhance their teaching skills but also qualify them for the benefits under the FQEP. 

By empowering these educators, SfS is ensuring that more school children receive the quality education they deserve, while also helping teachers secure better opportunities and compensation. 

Uncertified but Undeterred

During a recent visit by members of SfS to the communities of Buma and Ngolehun near the Bo District, it was revealed that most teachers worked year round without getting paid. Only one teacher per school typically has the government recognised pin code from the FQEP, while the remaining teachers continue as uncertified volunteers. 

Despite the lack of compensation, these teachers remain committed to educating the next generation. They face numerous challenges from limited resources to the ongoing struggle to cater for themselves and their families. Yet, their dedication to teach is never waived. 

Some teachers in Buma

Schools for Salone’s Vital Support

Approximately 70 percent of the teachers in schools supported by SfS and throughout Sierra Leone are uncertified. To address this, the NGO sponsors teacher certification programmes, helping educators achieve the credentials needed to qualify for government salaries. 

Through the Ministry of Education’s distance learning programme, SfS is helping these passionate teachers gain formal certification. SfS is inviting the global community to join their efforts in supporting these educators who are the backbone of rural education in Sierra Leone. 

By donating to sponsor an uncertified teacher, you can directly impact the lives of those who dedicate themselves to nurturing and teaching the youth in Sierra Leone’s underserved areas. 

Donate by visiting this LINK. By donating, you are sponsoring a teacher to complete a three-year Higher Teacher Certificate (HTC) therefore making a lasting difference in the lives of countless students and the communities they belong to. 

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. 

Some schoolchildren in Buma

Schools For Salone, a Seattle-based Non-Profit Organization (NGO) expanding education access in Sierra Leone, has launched the “Full Up Di Popo Bag” campaign to combat hunger and equip schoolchildren with the educational tools needed for their academic work. This initiative is primarily aimed at relieving families of their financial burden as the new school year begins. 

Food Insecurity In Sierra Leone

According to the World Food Programme’s latest hunger report, most Sierra Leoneans live in a state of food insecurity. This situation has worsened, with 82.3 percent of the population affected compared to 80 percent last year. 

The report, which was done in February 2024, added that amongst those facing food insecurity, 18 percent of households are severely food insecure. Among the surveyed households, 68 percent spend more than 75 percent of their total expenditure on food. 

The commodities prices have also increased, with rice, Sierra Leone’s most popular staple food, significantly increasing. From January 2023 to January 2024, the cost of local rice surged by 31 percent, while imported rice increased by 38 percent. 

This has caused families to struggle to afford basic necessities, and the impact on education is profound. Some parents, who are not able to afford the basics, such as food, also struggle to buy uniforms, shoes, and even school supplies. This has caused most parents to start the school year in debt as they need to borrow money to provide for their children. 

Research has also shown that proper nutrition is crucial for cognitive development and learning. A child who attends school on an empty stomach is less likely to concentrate and succeed academically. Schools for Salone recognises this challenge and is committed to addressing it head-on through their fundraising campaign. 

How Schools For Salone is Helping

To alleviate the financial burden on families when the school year begins and ensure students have the tools they need, Schools for Salone has launched the “Full Di Popo Bag” campaign. 

The goal is to raise $10,000 by September 12, 2024 to provide scholarships and school supplies for young school children across Sierra Leone. With the “Full Up Di Popo Bag” campaign, the organization is committed to ensuring that no child in SFS supported schools starts the 2024/2025 school year with an empty backpack. 

This initiative also helps combat hunger amongst families as parents will now have less struggle in making funds available for food. The money they would have used to buy school supplies can now be redirected to buying foodstuff, thus nourishing their families and allowing school children to attend classes with full bellies. 

What You Can Do To Help

The success of this campaign relies on the generosity of donors who believe in the power of education. Every contribution made ensures that children in Sierra Leone have a fair chance to succeed. 

One can donate by clicking on this link. By donating to the “Full Di Popo Bag” campaign, you are directly impacting the lives of students who aspire to be educated and rise above their circumstances. 

Help Schools for Salone break barriers that hinder access to education. By helping address food insecurity amongst the families of school children and equipping the students with the necessary educational tools, you are empowering the next generation to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities. 

Kindly visit this link to make your donation. 

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. 

Schools for Salone (SfS) has improved hygiene at FAWE School in Wara Wara Yagalah Chiefdom in Kabala, Koinadugu District. The school now has three new solar-powered taps and a latrine, providing 140 girls and their teachers with adequate toilet facilities and access to safe drinking water. FAWE has received three new classrooms thanks to SFS, with two more repaired.

Kabala district faces challenges in accessing water, especially during the dry season. FAWE School, located within the district, is not exempt from these difficulties. Students often arrive late to fetch water before and after school.

“Most of our students have no other option but to walk to nearby communities to fetch water for school, which disrupts their learning,” said Elizabeth Haja Korio, the Headmistress of FAWE School, Kabala.

The school administration highly appreciates the repairs and the new appearance of the toilets. Students and teachers no longer have to wait until they get home to use the restroom, saving them from strain and embarrassment.

According to UNICEF, only 16 percent of Sierra Leoneans have access to essential sanitation services, and 58 percent have no access to basic water services.

“All of our schools have access to water and sanitation and are aligned with the Global Goal—SDG 6—availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” said Cindy Nofziger, SfS founder and Executive Director. Nofziger was a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone in the 80s.

Clinton Caulker, an SFS partner in the Northern Province serving Falaba and Kabaka districts, regularly conducts community outreach. He checks on school buildings and remote areas in need of schools.

“We took on this project because, during my visit, I noticed dilapidated buildings, lack of water supply, and inadequate toilet facilities, especially unsuitable for the attending girls,” said Caulker. The FAWE school is the only all-girls school in Kabala for students from low-income families. In addition to academic instruction, the school also offers vocational education in areas such as tailoring, carpentry, catering, and masonry.

SFS has constructed 43 school buildings in Sierra Leone in the past two decades. This Seattle-based non-profit organization has expanded access to quality education through local partners since 2005.

This workshop is an integral component of SfS’s ongoing program to support teachers and library assistants, with the primary goal of fostering a love for reading among children.

The program, however, goes beyond theoretical knowledge, as it is carefully designed to be hands-on and practical, allowing participants to engage in meaningful activities. The sessions are tailored to enhance teachers’ understanding of effectively utilizing donated books to enrich the curriculum, managing school and community libraries, refining reading promotion skills, implementing sound records management, and employing effective monitoring techniques.

The expected outcome of the workshop is for teachers and library assistants to experience high competence and confidence in promoting reading within their respective schools and community libraries.

In addition, SfS has committed to supporting a school and two community libraries by furnishing them with current prescribed textbooks and supplementary reading materials as part of its continuous initiative to supply books to schools and community libraries. 

The objective is for these books to contribute to increased access to reading materials, improvements in teaching and learning, a reduction in the pupil-to-textbook ratio, greater utilization of school and community libraries, and a decrease in the financial burden on parents and teachers in rural areas due to reduced book purchasing costs.

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.