Educate the Future Leaders of Sierra Leone

Develop Africa—together with the Geed Foundation and the Freetown City Council—successfully distributed 100,000 pencils to students across 20 schools in November 2025.  

In this interview, Develop Africa Sierra Leone Program Coordinator Joseph K. explains a simple but powerful truth: something as small as a pencil can determine whether a child is able to fully participate in learning.

As highlighted in the video, many children come to school eager to learn but lack even the most basic tools. Some have notebooks but no pencil, forcing them to wait for classmates to finish writing before they can borrow one. This not only slows learning but also impacts confidence and engagement in the classroom.

Through this initiative, each child received pencils, sharpeners, and pencil cases—giving them the ability to actively participate in lessons and take ownership of their learning. As Joseph shared, “A pencil is a powerful tool. Without it, learning becomes difficult.”

The video also provides a broader look at Develop Africa’s work, showing how we support students from primary school through university, helping them stay on track and reach their full potential. This pencil distribution is one part of a larger, ongoing effort to remove barriers and expand access to education across Sierra Leone.

While this effort reached 20 schools, the need remains significant. Many more children across Sierra Leone still lack access to basic school supplies. With your continued support, we can expand this work and reach even more students.

Thank you for believing in the power of education and for helping ensure that every child has the opportunity not just to learn—but to succeed.

Together, we are helping children write more than words—we are helping them write their future.

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

Links:

• Empower Future Leaders in Sierra Leone with Education
• Video-Joseph-Born2Blog Interview