At Develop Africa, education is our core mission — but we have learned over twenty years of work in Sierra Leone that a child cannot learn if they are sick, hungry, or emotionally unsupported. Health and well-being are not separate from our education mission. They are what makes education possible.

A student who slept under a bed net last night is less likely to miss school with malaria this week. A child whose family received food support is more likely to show up focused and ready to learn. A young person with a trusted mentor is more likely to stay in school, set goals, and build the resilience to see them through.

This is why Develop Africa invests in health and well-being alongside our scholarship, school supplies, and digital skills programs. Every intervention we make is connected — and together, they create the conditions for education to take root and last.

Malaria Prevention — Providing Bed Nets

Malaria remains one of the most significant barriers to education and economic participation in Sierra Leone. Children under five and pregnant women are most vulnerable — but school-aged children are also heavily affected, missing days of class and falling behind due to illness that is entirely preventable.

Develop Africa provides insecticide-treated bed nets to families in need. These simple, proven tools create a physical barrier against infected mosquitoes at night — when transmission is highest. By protecting children while they sleep, bed nets help keep them healthy, in school, and learning.

When fewer children are sick with malaria, families spend less on healthcare and more on education. Communities become more economically stable. The ripple effect of a single bed net extends far beyond one night of protected sleep.

Donate Now — Support Malaria Prevention

Essential Food Support

Food insecurity is a daily reality for many families in Sierra Leone. When a child arrives at school hungry, learning becomes nearly impossible. When a family is struggling to put rice on the table, school fees and supplies fall further down the list of priorities — and children drop out.

Develop Africa provides essential food items — including rice, cooking oil, and onions — to families facing acute food insecurity. This support is not just about nutrition. It is about stability. When a family's most basic needs are met, parents are better positioned to keep their children in school, and children are better positioned to learn.

Your support ensures that families do not have to choose between eating and educating their children. Every meal we help provide is an investment in a child's ability to show up, stay focused, and build a future.

Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being Through Mentoring

Adolescence is one of the most vulnerable and formative periods of a young person's life — and in Sierra Leone, young people face pressures that extend well beyond the classroom. Academic stress, family hardship, early marriage pressure, and the weight of limited opportunity can take a significant toll on mental and emotional well-being.

Develop Africa's mentoring program connects youth with trusted adult mentors who provide consistent guidance, a safe space for honest conversation, and practical support for navigating the challenges of growing up. Mentors help young people — particularly girls — build confidence, set goals, develop life skills, and stay motivated to remain in school.

Research consistently shows that young people with strong mentoring relationships perform better academically, are less likely to drop out of school, and develop greater resilience in the face of adversity. At Develop Africa, mentoring is not an add-on — it is a core component of how we invest in the whole person, not just the student.

Donate Now — Support Our Mentoring Program

Your Support Makes It Possible

Every bed net distributed, every meal provided, every mentoring session held — these are the quiet investments that make education possible for children who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Your generosity is what connects our programs to the children who need them most.

We believe that health and well-being are not separate from development — they are the foundation of it. Thank you for helping us build that foundation, one child and one family at a time.

Sustainable Development Goals — Develop Africa is committed to helping fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our education, health, and community development programs in Sierra Leone.