We are so very excited about the opportunity that solar power and technology brings.  Technology holds a vital key in that it can be used positively to open doors of opportunity. Technology can solve or alleviate real life and everyday problems. 

For many thousands in the developing world, power cuts and "black outs" are part of life - happening every week. Many thousands of other homes are not connected to the electrical grid. These homes do not have any power at all and they depend on fossil fuels and consumable energy sources to light their homes. 

Schools are now closed for the academic year and will reopen in September.  

With 84% of the population living under the international poverty line, our support is needed more than ever.  About 1.5 million children are enrolled in primary school in Liberia, but the government said only 20 percent of the children complete 12th grade. Years of civil war have also taken their toll on the nation’s education system. In 2013, nearly 25,000 students failed the University of Liberia entrance exams.

Educating girls is crucial as this impacts the family and the entire nation. 
 

UNICEF believes it's simply the case that when you have healthy, well educated and emancipated women, these women in turn rear healthy, well educated and emancipated children.  

"To educate girls is to reduce poverty," says Kofi Annan.

According to UNESCO, “education and poverty eradication are inextricably bound”.

Thanks to your ongoing generosity students at an additional school are now using new books and supplies. These supplies are strengthening the educational foundation of kids at the UMC Calaba Town Nursery / Primary School. There are 160 pupils in the school, aged 3 - 16.  

The kids and teachers were delighted to receive the supplies.  Joyce Kosseh, the Head Teacher, sent a letter expressing her appreciation .  We are so excited about the opportunity that we have to help build a stronger generation of leaders in Sierra Leone. 

Suad (pictured) was born in July 2008.  She is a pupil at the Vickrays Community Primary School.  She is in class three. Suad lives with her parents and two siblings in a two bedroom apartment with no electricity and water supply. 

Suad was delighted to receive one of the lights that your donations helped provide - as this is helping her study at night. Suad looks forward to using this safe and renewable light source for many years.

Our story begins in 2010:

Isata was born in August 1999 in a very poor home. Her mother and father both work, but are struggling to care for their six children and they live in a slum dwelling.    Isata has been able to attend school the past eight years thanks to Develop Africa's scholarship program.  

During the second term of the 2015/2016 academic year, students at Bitame Lucia International School participated in and enjoyed many activities and celebrations.

In Cameroon, the entire nation annually celebrates National Youth Day mobilizing the next generation of leaders. This celebration instills them with pride and the knowledge that their uniqueness plays an important role for their future advancement.

According to theguardian - "...an estimated 58 million of primary aged children are still out of school, 31 million of them girls, the majority living in sub-Saharan Africa. Gender disparities increased in secondary and tertiary education, despite more young people enrolling over the past 20 years." ~ Two-thirds of world's illiterate adults are women, report finds