Water, sanitation & sustainability - Sierra Leone

We are pleased to share key updates from our ongoing community development work in Moyibo village, Sierra Leone. Our activities continue to strengthen access to education, food security, and community cohesion, with particular emphasis on building international connections and empowering women.

A major milestone this year has been the launch of a cultural exchange between Moyibo Primary School and a partner school in Devon, United Kingdom. Children from Moyibo have begun exchanging letters, drawings, and video messages with their peers in Devon. This initiative is fostering curiosity, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding among the pupils. Teachers from both schools have noted increased motivation and pride among students as they share their experiences and learn about different ways of life. Plans are underway to expand this connection through joint projects on themes such as climate, daily life, and community values.

In agriculture, the women of Moyibo are taking an increasingly active role in managing and expanding the village vegetable garden. Over the last six months, more than 30 women have been regularly engaged in planting, watering, harvesting, and managing produce. Crops such as okra, cassava leaves, tomatoes, and eggplant are now being grown more consistently. The garden not only contributes to household nutrition but is becoming a small-scale income source, with surplus vegetables sold at local markets. We have provided ongoing training in composting, seed selection, and water-efficient irrigation to support the garden's sustainability.

Importantly, these two activities—education and agriculture—are mutually reinforcing. The sense of ownership and pride among community members, particularly women and children, has deepened. The inclusion of women in the garden initiative is also shaping new norms around leadership and collective prosperity.

We thank our partners and donors for your continued belief in this work. Your support is directly helping rural communities in Sierra Leone thrive with dignity, resilience, and a renewed sense of global connection.