Sierra Leone's street children face untold violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination on a daily basis. Our project will pay for 450 street children to attend school. It offers each child a chance to leave the streets and make a positive, sustainable step towards a better future.
Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Its street children face daily threats of hunger and illness, sexual exploitation, pregnancy and inadequate access to healthcare, police brutality and discrimination. A national head count of street children conducted in 2011 revealed that nearly 50,000 children live and work on the streets for their survival. School charges and extra costs mean that education remains inaccessible for these children.
Although 'free education' is available, schools impose substantial charges per student and do not cover all of the associated costs of schooling (uniform, bag, books, shoes, socks, stationary, examination charges,extra lessons, text books, lunch money, transport costs). We will cover all of the costs of schooling for 450 street children in Sierra Leone, as well as providing other practical support such as medical care to each child after they enrol in education.
Access to education offers each of these children the opportunity to make a sustainable and positive change to their life. It would have a broad and profound impact on their future and the possibilities that lie before them. It would have a positive impact on the communities they live in and the society at large. Our ultimate goal is to help these children fulfil their aspirations and to bring about positive change in their lives.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
