Educate the Future Leaders of Sierra Leone

Dear Project Supporters

We are delighted to share an update - with photos showing the books and school supplies - that we were able to ship and distribute using funds that YOU provided. 

As you know, the quality of education that children receive is affected to a very large degree by the supporting environment. This environment includes the access to essential learning materials - books and school supplies. Consequently, we regularly focus our efforts on strengthening schools as we realize that this is a great way to ensure that kids receive a better education.

We shipped 6 drums and 4 pallets of books, school supplies and teacher resources. Included in this shipment was a large collection of items from a school district that was moving to a different curriculum for math and reading.  The reading curriculum included teacher materials as well as student materials from Houghlin Mifflin. 

Thanks to YOUR support we were able to provide this free to the following schools in Sierra Leone. We deeply appreciate YOUR support which made this possible.  

• Edmond Mosh Davies Memorial Primary School
• Thompson Bay Elementary School
• Pilgrims of God Church School
• Vickrays Community Primary School
• United Brethren Academy School

The schools in Sierra Leone have closed for the Christmas break and the kids are enjoying a brief vacation before school reopens in January.

Your donation or gift today will enable us to provide additional scholarships to the students on our waiting list. Your generous year-end donation of $100 will provide the gift of education and a brighter future for 1 child. This will help cover educational expenses such as uniforms, school-related charges etc.  A great way to bring JOY and share love!

We wish you a very happy holiday season!

Warmest regards

The Develop Africa Team

Links:

• Love Photos? See Over 230 Photos of The Schools

Dear Project Supporters,

A month or so ago, schools resumed in Sierra Leone. The recent flooding caused schools to be closed for a few days - but schools are back in full swing.

The kids are excited to be progressing in a new school year. Education continues to be very highly valued in this former British colony.  

The country is still under an Ebola watch. Thankfully, no single Ebola case was reported in schools during the last school term. The authorities are very vigilant and working hard to ensure that schools remain safe. Schools are continuing to enforce hand washing and temperature screening measures.

One of the kids that your support helps provide supplies for is Hassanatu. Hassanatu lives with her mother along with 4 other children. Her mother lacks a stable income, making life difficult for the family. Hassanatu would like to be a Nurse when she grows up. She is very helpful at home - and sweeps and wash dishes.

Because of YOU, children like Hassanatu are receiving the education they need to be successful in life.

Thank YOU so much for your continued support.

Bests Regards,

Develop Africa team

Links:

• Children go back to school in Sierra Leone
• Storm and flooding in Sierra Leone

Dear Project Supporters

As you may know, June 16th every year is commemorated as the Day of the African Child (DAC) by Member States of the African Union (AU), and its Partners as follows:

• This occasion is firstly a commemoration to recall the 1976 uprising in Soweto, when a protest by school children in South Africa against apartheid –inspired education resulted in the public killing of these unarmed young protesters by police officials.
• The DAC further presents an opportunity to focus on the work of all actors committed to the rights of children on the continent, to consolidate their efforts in addressing the obstacles for realizing these rights.
• The DAC also provides an occasion for Governments, International Institutions and Communities to renew their on-going commitments towards improving the plight of children by organizing activities aimed at including them.

This year we took the time to commemorate the day at the new Dream Home for Ebola Orphans.  Our goal was to pass on the message of sharing to them and to also help them realize that as children they are very important and valued.  We used the opportunity to share with the orphans briefly about the origin of the DAC and to also pass on the importance of education.

Food was prepared to commemorate the program held at the school that they attend. The kids also gathered flowers to remember those that have passed away. The kids enjoyed eating Foofoo (a local dish).

The After School Lesson program at Door of Hope has experienced tremendous growth in the past 2-3 months.  On July 1st, 2015, we registered over 240 students!

The children are clearly benefitting from the lessons and the school materials that YOU are helping to provide.  Thanks to your support, we have also been able to purchase additional benches for the kids to sit own.  We still need more benches to keep up with the growth. We are delighted that we can help to strengthen the education of these kids - the next generation.

Save The Date:  On July 15th, starting at 9:00 am Eastern US Time, donations on GlobalGiving USA and GlobalGiving UK will be matched at 50%.  This would be an ideal time to make your donation go even further and we welcome your support.  Your $50 donation will go towards providing scholarships for these deserving kids.  

Thanks so much for your support.

Cordially

The Develop Africa team

Links:

• Day of the African Child 2015
• Tremendous Growth at After School Lesson Program at Door of Hope

Dear project supporters

We are so very excited to report that your kids go back to school in 2 weeks!  Schools as you know, have been closed for all of the academic year so far (since September 2014 because of Ebola). Schools were initially scheduled to reopen at end of March - but this was postponed by 2 weeks to April 14.

Do you remember the days when you were eager to go back to school? Then, you can imagine how eager the kids must be to go back to school.  They are super excited to restart school and further their education.

Did you know that in many instances, children have not been able to go to school because their parents have not able to provide uniforms for them?

Thankfully, your kids will not be frustrated or hindered because of the lack of uniforms.  Since the last report, we have together raised $650.  With these funds, in the past 6 weeks, we have provided uniforms and shoes for over 15 kids.  You can see some of the kids with uniforms in the photos included in this report and at the following link - kids with new uniforms. 

Thanks to YOUR support, they are going back to school smartly dressed and looking great! 

We believe that no kid should have to miss a day or week or month of school because they do not have school uniforms.  Your support has made this possible and we are so grateful for your kind assistance.  

Best wishes

The Develop Africa Team

Links:

• Photos of kids with new uniforms
• Schools reopening in April

As we mentioned in the last project report, due to the Ebola crisis, all schools are currently closed in Sierra Leone - with no projected re-opening date.  Along with the kids, we are eagerly awaiting the reopening of schools.  With this in mind, we are making advance preparations.   We definitely want to be prepared, as families need our support now more than ever before.

Thanks in part to YOUR support, the last consignment of supplies of 3 huge boxes is being distributed. In the included photos you can see a number of children with their back packs / school bags - full of school supplies. The students photographed, who are beneficiaries of our project in Freetown, were happy, motivated and inspired by the supplies they received.  This provision of the vital learning tools will equip them as they learn and develop to become the future leaders of Sierra Leone.  

Thank you so much for helping to make this a reality through YOUR support.  Your support is truly helping to raise the next generation of leaders and ensure a brighter future for Africa.