Thanks in part to your support, more students in Kamakwie, Sierra Leone are getting the computer training they need for success in today's technology-driven environment. Mariama expresses her gratitude for the computer classes she is taking thanks to generous donors, like you.

In the heart of Sierra Leone, a story of resilience and compassion unfolds at the Develop Africa Sierra Leone Office.  At the center of it all stands Theresa, whose journey from beneficiary to benefactor exemplifies the transformative power of support and education. 

Theresa learned about Develop Africa in 2015 when she became pregnant during the Ebola Outbreak.  Girls who were visibly pregnant were not allowed to go back to school.  To help with this, Develop Africa opened the Creating Pathways Centre, which was set up to help girls like Theresa.

Today, we are excited to share part 1 of a 5-part series -  a community radio interview.  In this series, you will hear directly from our Program Manager in Sierra Leone and community members. We will share the remaining parts in the coming weeks. 

Thank you for your continued support of girls' education.  Recently one of the Develop Africa Sierra Leone (DASL) team attended a girls' mentoring session on financial literacy and shared the report below. 

Thomascias is a bright college student with dreams of becoming a Social Worker so that she can give back to the community that supported her in her times of need.  She has been a part of the Develop Africa Scholarship program since she was a little girl, and she is so thankful for the support she has received from donors like you that have enabled her to complete high school and now attend college. 

Thomascia expressed her gratitude to donors in this video. 

Over half of the school-going kids in Sierra Leone lack adequate lighting. Most rely on smoky and dangerous kerosene-based lighting for their evening studies. Lack of sufficient lighting critically undermines kids' ability to study in the evening and negatively affects their performance in the classroom.

In May 2023, Develop Africa, thanks to support from Ubuntu for Humanity, distributed lights to kids in Bo, Sierra Leone. This intervention helps to minimize the electricity challenge these kids face in their communities.

Jereme, a talented junior secondary school student, aspires to become a teacher. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, Jereme has received educational support to cover his tuition fees, textbooks, and school supplies. Your contributions have played a pivotal role in his education.

From the Field:  It's a hot and humid morning in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and a group of children is gathered around the computers, their eyes wide with wonder as they learn. For many of these students, they don’t have computers at home, let alone use one regularly.

However, with classes like this one, they are now learning computer skills and other related Microsoft Office programs, skills that can help them find jobs and build better lives for themselves and their families. 

Imagine a place where children's laughter fills the air, dreams are nurtured, and a bright future is within reach. That is the vision we hold dear—a nursery school that will serve as a beacon of hope, igniting the spirits of these young learners and providing them with the quality education they deserve.

Financial literacy is very crucial in the development of young people and was the focus of a recent boys' mentoring session. The session was attended by 22 boys, who each received transportation to the mentoring session and lunch. Mr. Abass K., an experienced audit associate, was the guest speaker.  

He covered several key points during his presentation:

1. General concepts of financial literacy

2. Balancing needs and wants

3. The importance of savings