Offline Computer Lab for Children

Digital Phonics for Every Child is an education initiative designed to improve foundational literacy among children in low-income community primary schools in Sierra Leone. The project responds to challenges faced by children who have limited access to quality reading materials, structured phonics instruction and technology-supported learning opportunities.

The project uses Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) as an approach to strengthen early reading skills. Through structured lessons, teacher training, digital learning resources and regular reading practice, children are supported to understand the relationship between letters and sounds, blend sounds to read words, segment words for spelling and develop greater confidence in reading.

So far, the project has directly supported 100 children in Grades 1–5and engaged15 teachers across five community primary schools. We organized a practical workshop to help teachers understand how to integrate learning technology into their classroom teaching and use digital resources to make lessons more engaging and effective. Teachers were encouraged to use technology alongside their normal teaching methods to support children's reading and learning.

As part of the initiative, we distributed iPads to children to give them access to digital learning resources under the guidance and supervision of their teachers. The devices provide opportunities for children to practise phonics, explore educational content and develop basic digital learning skills. Teachers play an important role in guiding children on how to use the devices safely and effectively for educational purposes.

We have also engaged parents and community members to encourage children to practise reading outside the classroom and to create a supportive learning environment at home.

The initiative is being implemented in Waterloo District, Western Rural Sierra Leone, where many children have limited access to learning resources and reliable internet connectivity. By combining phonics instruction, teacher support and digital learning tools, the project aims to create more opportunities for children to improve their literacy skills and participate in modern learning.

The long-term goal is to develop a practical and scalable model that can be expanded to other underserved community schools across Sierra Leone.