This project will fund learning materials and create a structured classroom experience for adult women learners who currently serve on the construction team of the future Maternal Center of Excellence in Kono, Sierra Leone.
In Sierra Leone, up to 41% of women and girls have not completed their primary school education. If employed, women are paid up to 45% less than men. Women construction workers at the Maternal Center of Excellence, a major health project in the Kono district backed by Build Health International and Partners In Health Sierra Leone, lack the necessary math and literacy skills to succeed in future employment opportunities.
With an onsite classroom at their workplace, women team members can earn sustainable income for their families and pursue continuing education at the same time. Numerical and literacy classes would be age-appropriate and culturally relevant, with a specific focus on the construction industry and trade knowledge. More importantly, classes are held immediately after the workday, which will not interfere with work or household responsibilities.
Although BHI's construction project will eventually conclude in 2025, equipping current team members with literacy and mathematical skills will allow them to succeed in future job opportunities. As Sierra Leone's total labor force grows significantly more each year, providing learning and professional development opportunities will prepare these team members for an emerging construction job market, leading to long term educational and economic success.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
