Educate the Future Leaders of Sierra Leone

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.

Meet Emmanuel.  Emmanuel is a pupil of the Vickray's Community primary school and he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. He is already a leader and an example to the younger kids in his community.  Emmanuel likes to entertain and make people laugh.  He is also a good student. His favorite subject is mathematics and his favorite activity is soccer. He has one brother and one sister. His duties at home are to wash dishes, fetch water and tidy the house.

Your support helps Emmanuel, and kids like him, further their education.  This is helping them make the necessary and steady educational progress towards their future dreams.  Thanks to your support, Emmanuel is progressing towards his goal of becoming a doctor. Your donations also help provide his school supplies.

Due to the Ebola crisis, all schools are currently closed in Sierra Leone - with no projected re-opening date. This could be in the next month or so.  We do not know the date for sure - but we definitely want to be prepared - as families need our support - now more than ever before. Business has slowed down considerably in Sierra Leone and many business have shut down. The economy has taken a down turn and many families in the communities that we work are struggling to survive.  The immediate future is bleak.

During our “Stop the Spread” Ebola sensitization program held on September 4th, three hundred and sixty (360) children were reminded about the importance and benefits of getting an education. We did this in order to keep the concept of schooling current in their minds.  Thanks in part to YOUR support, one thousand, two hundred (1,200) exercise books were distributed to the kids.  You can watch a video where 2 kids say thank you towards the end of the video.  This starts at 1 minute 48 seconds into the video.

On Wednesday, October 15th, from 9 am EDT to 11:59 pm EDT (or until funds run out!) Global Giving will be matching donations up to $1,000 per donor at 30%! There is $75,000 available in matching!  This presents a great opportunity for your donation to go even further - with matching funds.

Your donation on October 15th will help us provide even more scholarships and supplies for budding leaders like Emmanuel.  Thanks so much for your support as we prepare for a great school year!

Links:

• Sierra Leone Declares State of Emergency in Ebola Crisis
• Ebola Awareness Campaign - Photos
• Video: Stop The Spread - Ebola Awareness Campaign

Did you remember coloring or painting as a kid?  It was so much fun to color and paint.

Experts and research agree that coloring or painting is very important for kids as they develop because it aids the development of fine and gross motor skills.  It allows them to perform better in other, more academic and physical ways.  Coloring on a blank piece of paper, is a great way for children to express themselves.

In our effort to ensure that we contribute holistically to well-rounded leaders - leaders who are developed in every area, we recently held a coloring and painting competition for the kids in the community of the Develop Africa Empowerment and Training Institute.  The kids were very excited as you can see from the photos.  In teams, they decided what they would draw, chose representative colors, completed and submitted their entries.  

As you review the photos - the completed entries reflect their creativity and their skills. Because this was a team event, they had to learn to work together, make group decisions and assign tasks based on relative skills.  We also were able to see kids rising to leadership roles and coordinate the creation of their entries.

YOU were a huge part of making this event a success - because of your support.  Your on-going investment into the lives of the children and youths in Sierra Leone is making a huge difference.  Thanks so much for helping us create the ideal environments for their holistic development.  You are a huge part of what we are doing – and we would not be able to do what we are doing without your faithful support.

This Wednesday June 25th is Bonus Day and YOUR donation of any amount up to $1000 will be matched dollar for dollar by Microsoft YouthSpark, YOU can help us continue to provide diverse opportunities for the learning and growth of the children and youth.

Beginning Wednesday at NOON (EDT) until funds run out or June 26th at 11:59 AM, your donation will be DOUBLED allowing for an even bigger impact on the children and youth we serve together!  Thank you helping us to secure the matching funds that will make a huge difference in the lives of our future leaders!

We are delighted to share with you a special appreciation video clip from Joshua - The Director of Door of Hope. Joshua is a key member of our team in Sierra leone.

In the video he says to YOU, GlobalGiving donors - that your help has made a LOT of difference in the lives of the kids.  He goes on to explain that through the support that we have provided (in the form of books, school and teaching supplies, compensation for the After School Program Instructors), has helped the children become successful in school. In the past year all of the children who attended the lessons were successful and were promoted to the next class or form.  

This is worth celebrating and we appreciate you so much for helping to make this possible!  We could not have done this without YOUR support.

We are together truly helping the kids become successful.  We are helping to educate the next generation of leaders.  

Thanks so much for your support that has made a HUGE difference!

Watch the 90 seconds video now.

Links:

• special appreciation video clip from Joshua