Sierra Leone is a small, tropical country of savannahs, farmland and rainforests on Africa’s west coast, home to 7.977 million people (World Bank, 2020).

From 1991 to 2002, Sierra Leone underwent a devastating civil war. It resulted in over 50,000 deaths, over two million people displaced and the destruction of the country’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and water facilities. Sierra Leone was also hard-hit by the 2014 Ebola outbreak. As well, Sierra Leone’s struggle with its wealth of diamonds has resulted in a “resource curse,” a phenomenon where a country with an abundance of natural resources is characterized by a lower level of economic development. Over 60% of people in Sierra Leone live below the national poverty line, and life expectancy is among the lowest in the world. It has been heartbreaking for us to witness this firsthand.

WE Charity’s partnership with communities in Sierra Leone dates back to the end of their civil war, when the country was in desperate need of academic infrastructure. Through this partnership, we have implemented community-led, holistic and sustainable programming across our five-pillar development model. This holistic model starts with education, usually building or renovating schools or school rooms (including classrooms, libraries, kitchens, teachers’ accommodations, and school offices), that are then supported by other infrastructure needs key to breaking the cycle of poverty, from clean water to improved health care. WE Charity also has a local partner, the Sisters of St. Joseph Cluny, who have been working in Sierra Leone for many years.

During the civil war, thousands of children were orphaned and left traumatized or physically disabled. With schools destroyed or closed during the war, education was put on hold for a generation. Sadly, the Ebola outbreak also had a devastating impact and orphaned thousands of children, as well as putting a pause on education.

Together with communities and with the Sisters of St. Joseph Cluny, WE Charity has focused on providing children with access to education through building or renovating school rooms, supporting school curriculum and programming, and providing furniture and basic school supplies. This includes supporting a Senior Secondary School, which helps young girls prepare for further education and equips them with the knowledge, training and skills to develop personally and contribute to their families and communities. School infrastructure also includes private latrines, which help students stay healthy as well as reducing drop-out rates of young girls.