Donate School Supplies to Children in Sierra Leone | Develop Africa
Donate School Supplies to Children in Sierra Leone
Why School Supplies Matter for Children in Sierra Leone
Right now, millions of children across West Africa start the school day without the most basic learning tools.
In Sierra Leone, many students walk into classrooms without notebooks, pencils, textbooks, or backpacks. An informal survey by Develop Africa across five West African countries found that two out of three school-aged children lack the supplies they need to succeed.
That means bright, motivated students are falling behind — not because they lack ability, but because they lack tools. Lessons are missed. Confidence fades. Potential goes untapped.
But this is where you come in.
When you donate school supplies to Sierra Leone through Develop Africa, that story changes. Your gift puts a backpack on a child's shoulders, notebooks on their desk, and a pencil in their hand. It gives them the tools to participate in class and the dignity of showing up prepared — just like their peers.
A child who was trying to learn with nothing can now start the school year ready, confident, and equipped. You can also make a deeper impact by sponsoring a child in Sierra Leone.
What Your School Supply Donation Makes Possible
Since 2006, Develop Africa has connected donors worldwide with schools in greatest need. Because of supporters like you — from the U.S., Canada, Europe, the UK, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond — over 124,700 children have received school supplies in Sierra Leone and across the region.
Today, our primary focus is Sierra Leone, where your donated school supplies are helping turn classrooms with shortages into classrooms with opportunity.
2026 Goal: Backpacks for Bright Futures in Sierra Leone
In celebration of Develop Africa's 20th Anniversary, we are launching a special Backpacks for Bright Futures campaign with one clear goal:
Support 200 students in honor of 20 years of impact.
That means 200 children in Sierra Leone will start the school year with the supplies and tuition support they need — not just to attend school, but to learn, participate, and believe in their future.
What School Supplies Does Develop Africa Accept?
Your donation of school supplies for Sierra Leone helps deliver exactly what students need most:
- Preschool, elementary, and high school backpacks
- Notebooks and exercise books (preferably lined, 200 pages or more)
- Pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, and pencil pouches
- Calculators, geometry sets, and rulers
- Coloring books and crayons
- Solar lights for studying
- Computers, tablets, eReaders, and laptops
- Cell phones
- Chalk and erasers for chalkboards
Due to limited resources, we are no longer able to accept supplies outside of the list above. Please email hello@developafrica.org with any questions.
Please fill out the Drive Registration Form first. This helps us know when to expect your school supply donations.
Got questions? Email us at hello@developafrica.org
How to Donate School Supplies to Sierra Leone from the USA or Canada
While we deeply appreciate school supply donations, donors must cover all shipping costs for supplies sent to Sierra Leone. Unfortunately, Develop Africa is unable to cover shipping costs at this time.
Ship your school supply donation to:
Develop Africa
1906 Knob Creek Road, Suite 3
Johnson City, TN 37604, USA
Phone: 423-282-0006
Shipping school supplies outside the US and Canada? Email us at hello@developafrica.org for further information.
Help Cover Shipping Costs for School Supplies to Sierra Leone
Shipping school supplies internationally is expensive. Financial donations toward shipping are one of the most impactful ways to help children in Sierra Leone.
- We suggest $50 per box to help cover shipping — Donate Now
Donations toward shipping can be made online or by check/money order.
Find tips and ideas for raising funds for shipping school supplies to Sierra Leone here.
If covering shipping costs is not feasible, we warmly invite you to donate through our Fill the Backpack Campaign — which helps us purchase school supplies locally and efficiently. Our goal is to fill 200 backpacks for distribution to students in Sierra Leone this August.
Fill the Backpack — donate school supplies online: https://givebutter.com/fillbackpacks
Start a School Supply Drive for Children in Sierra Leone
We have received countless school supply donations from drives at churches, schools, fraternities, and sororities. Sponsor or start a collection drive in your community — every box of school supplies makes a real difference for children in Sierra Leone.
Click here for tips on organizing a successful School Supplies Drive for Africa.
Ship School Supplies to Sierra Leone at a Reduced Rate — Give Back Box
We have partnered with Give Back Box to help donors ship school supply donations to Sierra Leone at a reduced rate. Through our Give Back Box partner page, you can purchase a shipping label for a flat fee of $20 — covering a box of school supplies up to 35 pounds, shipped to our Tennessee office.
Important — Before You Proceed:
- This fee is subject to change without notice.
- This is a cost-effective option for boxes of school supplies weighing up to 35 pounds.
- Disregard the "10 pounds" that may be printed on the label.
- Labels may share the same tracking number. If sending more than one box of school supplies, be prepared to drop them off on different days, as your shipping store may not accept more than one box with the same label on the same day.
Required: Please include your name or group name and contact information (email, phone number, and address) inside each box — otherwise we will not be able to identify or thank you. Please specify if you would like a tax receipt.
Disclaimer: Develop Africa is not directly affiliated with Give Back Box or its services. While donors may choose to use Give Back Box labels to ship school supply donations to Develop Africa, Develop Africa does not control the accuracy or shipping process of boxes using Give Back Box labels. Donors are encouraged to carefully review the terms and conditions provided by Give Back Box before shipping. Develop Africa is not liable for any issues or discrepancies related to donations shipped using Give Back Box labels.
Things to Know About Your School Supply Donation
- School supplies are carefully sorted, repacked, and shipped through trusted clearing and forwarding agencies to ensure delivery directly to schools in Sierra Leone — preventing donated items from being delayed, taxed, or abandoned at ports.
- Donors receive acknowledgment and can request tax receipts for school supply donations.
- Please include your name or company/group name and contact information inside each box so we can properly thank you once the supplies reach Sierra Leone.
- Tracking information is helpful when possible.
- We love receiving photos and videos from your school supply drives — share them with us at hello@developafrica.org.
Join Us — Help Educate Children in Sierra Leone
When you donate school supplies, you are doing more than giving materials — you are restoring dignity, confidence, and opportunity to a child in Sierra Leone who is ready to learn.
One backpack. One pencil. One child at a time.
Since 2006, Develop Africa has provided school supplies to over 124,700 children in Sierra Leone. Your donation helps us reach the next child. Want to make an even deeper impact? Consider sponsoring a child in Sierra Leone.
