International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th each year.  International Women's Day celebrates women and this year UN says "This International Women's Day, let's claim 'Gender Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow'."

The Develop Africa Sierra Leone (DASL) computer lab currently has 72 students taking classes.  There are 3 different batches of students at various levels in their computer training, which include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Classes are set up so that everyone has access to their own computer and are available at varying times and days depending on the group each student is in.

We are super excited to report that computer training has started a new computer lab.   

This computer lab is located at the Kamakwie Wesleyan School, in Kamakwie. Kamakwie is approximately 168 miles from Freetown (the capital city), population (around 8000). Many youths in this community have never had access to any computer training - making this an ideal location for this intervention.

We are truly grateful to Catherine, who reached out to Develop Africa asking if she could make a difference for girls in Africa. 

Every donation received makes a difference for the future leaders in Sierra Leone.  The support received has helped students with school supplies, books, tuition, uniforms, transportation, and school lunches.  Alusine is so thankful for the school lunches he is receiving saying it has helped him greatly in his academics. Previous to the school lunches he used to come to school on an empty stomach which was affecting his concentration and ability to learn.

Thanks in part to your ongoing support, the Develop Africa Sierra Leone (DASL) team held another girls’ mentoring program on January 22, 2022, on self-esteem and setting goals.  Thirty-one young ladies between the ages of 10-20 years old in Freetown attended the mentoring session.   Lunch and transportation were provided to the girls in attendance as well as a care package including cooking oil, onions, macaroni, tin tomato, and biscuits.

The guest speaker discussed the following points:

COVID-19 made getting an education even more challenging for future leaders in Sierra Leone in 2021.  One of the ways your generous support helped these future leaders in 2021 was by providing families with food support.  Your generous support helped support 63 families in Freetown, Makeni, Bo, and Kamawornie who each received a bag of rice, one gallon of cooking oil, and onions.  We are so thankful for your generous support this past year!

In 2021, through this partnership, Develop Africa and Gen Hybrid Systems, LLC set up a computer lab at the Kamakwie Wesleyan School, Kamakwie Sierra Leone. Kamakwie is approximately 168 miles from Freetown (the capital city), population (around 8000). Many youths in this community have never had access to any computer training - making this an ideal location for this intervention.

One of the challenges these future leaders face is not being able to study at night due to no electricity.  Solar lights are very instrumental in providing some sort of electricity to homes in deprived communities in Sierra Leone. It helps students to study at night (most especially in homes where there is no national electrical power) and make good grades in school.

In Sierra Leone, research has proven that one in every two children under the age of five admitted into pediatric care is affected by malaria. Mosquito nets create an effective barrier and provide protection from mosquito bites for two years hence preventing Malaria and reducing the burden of Malaria in Sierra Leone.