Educate the next generation of leaders in Freetown
Empower the Next Generation of Leaders in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is on the West Coast of Africa, with an estimated population of 6.2 million. Of this population, only 35.1% are literate (age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic). (Source CIA Factbook) In other words almost 65% of the population over 15 years old cannot read or write.
According to the United Nations 2007-2008 Human Development report, Sierra Leone ranks as # 177 (last place) in Human Development Index.
According to UNESCO, “education and poverty eradication are inextricably bound”. Develop Africa anticipates that educating children and youths provides opportunities for economic independence and is an effective long-term investment to eradicating poverty. Access to education honors their basic human rights.
Imagine ... not having notebooks to take notes or having support materials to teach or having a conducive learning environment – chairs, a black or write board etc.
Imagine ... not being able to read or write.
For many children and youths in Sierra Leone, the access to life-transforming educational opportunities is limited or non-existent. This is not mere imagination - but reality. Some of these youths end up falling out or school and pursuing undesirable pursuits. They learn in dismal conditions:
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The Principal of a school in Freetown, Sierra Leone laments in a local newspaper (Awoko) article dated October 8, 2008.
“I am a principal of a school with over 500 pupils and 26 trained and qualified teachers but salaries, learning materials and subsidies have not been forth coming from Government and the Freetown City Council” he stressed.
The children in the school had this to say additionally:
A cross section of pupils interviewed lamented to Awoko about the difficult learning environment they are forced to contend with, “we are only pretending to be going to school, because the school lacks library, laboratory and other learning materials which have been largely responsible for the poor performances of pupils during public exams.
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How much difference has your education (formal or informal) made to your life? For most people, education made a significant difference in one way or the other. For many, education has for instance helped to open doors, provided training for a career, helped to improve their lifestyle etc.
Today, we wish to invite you to do a small part in helping to educate and empower the next generation of leaders in Sierra Leone. Yes, you can make a difference and your donation of together with others is a strategic investment into the lives of these children and youths. their lives will never, ever be the same again.
The school authorities and the children were very pleased to receive the books, teaching and school supplies – some of which are very hard to obtain here. The scholarship recipients are very grateful for this opportunity provided to them to continue their schooling, without which some would possibly drop out of school. Joane Tucker - Project Coordinator
How You Can Help
- Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ie3fl5LKvQ
- Develop Africa Youtube site: http://www/youtube.com/developafrica
- Develop Africa’s Facebook Cause
- http://standardtimespress.net/cgi-bin/artman/publish/article_3407.shtml
- http://awoko.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=4020&cntnt01returnid=721
- http://hdrstats.undp.org/indicators/7.html
- http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_SLE.html
- http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sierraleone_statistics.html
- UN Millennium Goals: http://un.org/millenniumgoals/
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone
- CIA fact book: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/sl.html