The new school year causes excitement about seeing friends and maybe a little bit of nerves with new classes and new teachers, but what it should not cause is concern about whether or not the student has a uniform to wear to school. Many families cannot afford the cost of uniforms, tuition and school supplies and as a result many children in Sierra Leone are unable to complete their core education. This project will provide 40 students with two school uniforms and a pair of shoes.
According to the United Nations 2007-2008 Human Development report, Sierra Leone ranks as # 177 (last place) in Human Development Index. Many families in Sierra Leone cannot afford the cost of uniforms, tuition and school supplies and sadly many children are forced to drop out of school because of financial hardships or inadequate funds. Providing shoes and uniforms will enable more children to attend school.
Funds from this project will provide 40 children with uniforms and shoes. According to Poverty Action lab, giving a uniform reduces school absenteeism by 6.4 percentage points (43 percent) from a base of 15 percent school absenteeism. The effect is 3.4 percentage points larger for students who did not have a uniform at the baseline. Providing shoes and uniforms will enable more children to attend school and the promise of a better future.
This project contributes to the achievement of UN Millennium goal - ensuring that children will complete their schooling. It is an effective long-term investment to eradicating poverty & will help improve the quality of education and lives in general. Education is a proven contributor to individual and national development. Through the education that we are providing, we are raising better equipped and resourceful leaders, families and nations.
