What next?

I am asked often about what our students go on to after school.  
I firmly believe that whether or not there is definite employment for them, education in itself has great value and keeps doors open but it is a real concern!
As many of our youngsters as we reasonably can, we take on as junior staff when they finish their own senior secondary studies.  In that role, they mature greatly while they put back into a system that has helped them.  We also try and see if we can link them to potential donors who can support their studies at tertiary level.
This too is a challenge.  We are struggling to fund our core activities and are already making difficult choices about who we feed, how much and how often and so on.  We can't afford to distract our loyal donors from core funding and so we go in circles!
We have a super group of youngsters right now who have just finished their senior secondary exams.  A number are taking up key support positions as junior staff within EducAid and we will be looking around to see about ways of helping them forwards.  
Last year, one group got together and started, with support from Swithun and others, a small printing and book making enterprise.  Some of them actually have formal sponsors but others in the group have not.  They have currently put aside enough money to help a couple of their colleagues with their college fees.  I am delighted at this communal spirit and really proud of their desire to support each other.
There is some talk of helping some of this year's leavers take micro-finance loans from a recognised lender, in order to start mini enterprises which they can use to help those who do not have formal sponsors.  
We are looking at internships with some of the up and coming businesses that are starting to be established.  We are keeping our eyes open for anything we think might help these young people keep moving forwards.
If, as you read this, you have any bright ideas as to how we might be able to source sponsorship for tertiary courses for some underprivileged bright responsible young Sierra Leoneans, please feel free to pass the ideas on to us : )


If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com

Irena Przybyl - Exciting new photography project just starting

Irena enjoying the sea breeze and contemplating the way forward.

Irena Przybyl, a friend from my old school days, has just arrived in Sierra Leone to undertake a wonderful photography project.  She will be training groups of children in Lumley and in Maronka (the project will be rolled out to the other sites in the new year).  They will take photos of their world as seen through their eyes and then use them to tell the story of their lives and thus create a book (for sale in the UK).
The kids she has started working with are excited to be learning all sorts from how to work the cameras to filling frames to aesthetic awareness to...... all sorts!
Working with a team of junior staff to run teams of younger students, Irena will engage over 4o youngsters this week in Lumley and a further whole fleet of littluns in Maronka next week.
Watch this space and start saving your pennies so you can buy a few copies of your nearest and dearest when the book comes out.
All proceeds will be donated direct to EducAid to support our work here in Sierra Leone.
Many thanks Irena for this generous initiative and all your support.
If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.educaidsierraleone.blogspot.com

So much happening....and so little time to write about it all!

Linda - very studious.

Maronka teacher training centre - the roof is going on.

Miriam Mansaray on a Sunday morning

Day of the African Child and our Maronka African children are shaking their stuff : )

 There are people doing triathlons in Devon and cycling across Asia among other antics on behalf of EducAid.  There are two young volunteers fresh from teacher training in Lincoln, a talented school friend and a business minded young man from Oxford all contributing their expertise, time and energy to boost various aspects of EducAid's work in Sierra Leone.  The UK based EducAid family continues to support generously in so many ways, financially as well as with donations and contributions in kind.

In response, the Sierra Leone based EducAid family have not been sleeping:

Laundry day in Maronka!

• The Secondary level teacher training 'Quality Enhancement Programme' that operates in Rolal with 12 partner schools from rural Port Loko district is concluding for the year after running courses in 6 key subjects to community and untrained teachers and an exciting behaviour management day for the principals.
• The Primary level teacher training centre has a 90% complete roof on it and is due to be ready for a September start.



The Deputy Director of Education
speaking to the assembled partner principals
from the Teacher Training programme

• The Leadership Team are increasingly strong in their management of the schools.  The students are setting ever higher standards for themselves and each other.  

• The Magbeni School was one of eight winning teams in the Innovate Salone competition being awarded $500 to go and implement their agriculture food security project.  
• The community service programme by which all EducAid students give two weeks a year, continues to inculcate the spirit of service.  
• The literacy and 'holistic' activities continue to ensure our students are among the best educated in the country.  
• The girls house is providing wonderful care for the girl pupils at Maronka.  
• Isata, YahYah, YahYah A, Musa, Tee, Bai Bundu and Sumaila are starting tertiary studies in September, thanks to UK sponsors.  
• Mabinty, Mealo and Bockarie will be completing their degrees in the next couple of months.  
• 20 junior staff will finish their teacher training course in the autumn.  
• A dozen new junior staff are being recruited to join the support teaching staff this week, having finished their senior secondary studies.



Rolal students on their way to the 16th June
(Day of the Afrian Child)
celebrations in Port Loko.

• The Maronka primary school kids are learning about and dramatising their understanding of their rights and responsibilities (videos to be uploaded when one of us gets near a decent internet connection!)

..... and so on ....


The battle continues.  There is so much to be done and funding issues continue to plague us but we are excited about the future and all it holds for EducAid and for the country.


If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com

Maronka footballers doing their fitness training

Obai giving Rights Education

Human rights education by Obai!

The chief came this morning to speak to the children in assembly about their rights and responsibilities.

Having changed beyond recognition in his own outlook towards violence and corporal punishment, during the time that I have known him, Obai is very keen that good standards are maintained and that the children know what is ok and what is not.

A delicate balance to be gained between rights and responsibilities, of course, but the kids, staff and community are moving forwards in their abilities to get that balance right.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com

EducAid teachers out and about!

Back in October 2011, The EducAid leaders and managers had an exciting trip to the UK for training as teacher trainers and school visits and observation.  They had a great time and came back reinvigorated and enthused for their difficult task of teaching and in addition, reaching out to some of the schools in rural Port Loko to offer training to their teachers, so many of whom are untrained and unqualified.

This was all made possible by the Steve Sinnott Foundation, started by Steve's widow, Mary, who wanted to pursue, in his name, his preoccupations with development education.  Steve Sinnott was the head of the National Union of Teachers for many years before his untimely death from cancer.

EducAid's training programme is one of the Foundation's three pilot projects.  At the recent NUT  conference The Foundation were on show and had the above magazines for sale.  The quote from Steve shows the spirit of the partnership in which we are engaged and the photo tells the story of the joy and enthusiasm that all involved bring to the project.

Thank you everyone.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com

St Simon's RC Primary School, Hazel Grove are long term supporters of EducAid. Children, parents and staff have really taken our cause to heart. Over the years, every sort of enterprise has been undertaken on our behalf and the enthusiasm and partnership still continues and grow.  Each year, impressive sums of money are raised.

Most recently, while other people were enjoying a lazy weekend in the heatwave, back in March, Kath and Hayley ran the Wilmslow half marathon. Here they are in their special EducAid T-shirts receiving their medals at the Friday assembly.

Below too are the girls who have been making and selling jewellery and other items in order to make some cash for EducAid.

Thank you all at St Simon's for your commitment to our work, for making us feel so at home whenever we come around. Kofi says a special thank you for his week too and in particular afternoon tea with the lucky chosen ones for the week and the head teacher, Elizabeth Inman!

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com

Creating a Ripple - Stockport Grammar Girls

Stockport Grammar School have had a link with and been raising funds for EducAid for many years now.  This is the latest in their multivarious activities to support is in our work.

Great work girls.  Your help is really appreciated.

Thank you.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleone.blogspot.com