Thanks in part to donor support, more youths and young adults are getting the computer training they need for success in today's technology-driven environment.  On January 19, 2023, the Develop Africa Sierra Leone (DASL) team held a graduation ceremony at the DASL Computer lab for fifty-nine students who completed the Microsoft office computer training and the hardware & networking course. 

We greatly appreciate your ongoing support for girls’ education in Sierra Leone. Thanks to you, more girls are getting the computer training they need for success in today's technology-driven environment, like Marian & Augusta.

Marian & Augusta benefitted from computer classes on Microsoft Office at the Develop Africa Sierra Leone Computer Lab in Freetown. 

Augusta & Marian were both very thankful for the computer training and said-

We are so thankful for the continued support to help build a nursery school in Kamawornie.  

In early 2022, we started construction of a 3-classroom block. The roofing and the building have been completed. You can see photos of the building process in this album.

On January 24th we celebrated the International Day of Education with the theme being To invest in people, prioritize education.

Education is a proven way to alleviate poverty and bring lasting change. 

This year's theme for the International Day of Education (January 24th) is “to invest in people, prioritize education”.   Education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility.- https://www.unesco.org/en/days/education

Happy New Year! Mishael is starting off the new year in college thanks to generous #yearend support.  

Mishael is so thankful that he is starting college and sent this video of appreciation saying

Hello, my name is Mishael, a beneficiary of Develop Africa. I want to say a very big thank you for the tuition fees you have provided me with in order to further my education. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We are truly grateful for the #YearEnd support we received!!

We asked for your help to send Mariama to college and your support made it possible for Mariama to start college this semester.

Mariama made this video of gratitude to you saying

Thank you very much for the support you have given me this past year.  You helped to pay my first-year tuition fees at the University. You’ve really helped me a lot and I’m very grateful.  Thank you very much! 

Did you know that in Sierra Leone, first-year college students are typically asked to pay tuition upfront for an entire semester of college?

This is required before starting college classes. These students also typically do not have access to student loans or financial aid. There are very few and limited scholarships.

Mariama, pictured above, has been accepted to the University, but she will not be able to start classes until her tuition is paid. 

Thanks to countless donors, 31 drums full of school supplies left our Tennessee office on December 1st. The drums arrived at the shipping company in Maryland on the following day. They were then loaded onto a 40-foot container to travel to Africa. Once in Sierra Leone, they will be unloaded and transported to our office in Freetown.

In July, Sevier County schools in Tennessee donated nearly 700 desks to benefit students in Sierra Leone.  News coverage can be watched at https://www.wvlt.tv/2022/07/11/sevier-county-schools-donating-desks-africa/