Educate a Girl, Educate a Nation - Sierra Leone

The Year of the Pencil distribution, launched at Regent Square School, focused on young learners from Nursery 2 through Class 3. Each child received 10 pencils, a sharpener, and a pencil case—simple tools that are essential for daily learning but often out of reach for many families.

During the event, a powerful reality was shared by Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr in this video that some children attend school without even a single pencil. In some cases, students must wait for classmates to finish writing just to borrow a pencil. This not only slows learning but also limits participation and confidence in the classroom.

This initiative helped remove that barrier.

While a pencil may seem like a small item, its impact is profound. With access to their own supplies, students can fully participate in lessons, complete their work, and engage more confidently in their education. As Mayor Aki-Sawyerr shared during the event, this effort is about more than writing—it is about giving children the ability to “write their future.”

This initiative reflects the importance of collaboration between nonprofits, local organizations, and government partners. Together, we were able to reach thousands of students and make an immediate, tangible difference in their learning environment.

The success of this initiative is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together. As we continue our mission of educating and empowering future leaders in Sierra Leone, we remain committed to expanding access to the basic tools every child needs to learn.

Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping students not only write—but write their future.

With gratitude,
Amy & the Develop Africa Team
GlobalGiving@developafrica.org

Links:

• Educate Girls to become Empowered Women
• Video of the Mayor Speaking to Born2Blog