Support for preschool children in Sierra Leone with a focus on girls
Project Status:
In Implementation
Funding Topic:
Education
Country:
Sierra Leone, Cline Town
Duration:
2025 – 2026
Target Group:
Children aged 3 – 5 years
Direct Beneficiaries:
50 children, 4 teacher assistants
SDGs:
- Quality Education (SDG 4)
- Gender Equality (SDG 5)
- Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)
According to UNESCO, preschool lays the foundation for lifelong learning, social participation and equal opportunities – and is particularly effective if it is of high quality.
In Clinetown, a low-income community in the east of Freetown, access to high-quality early childhood education remains a major challenge for many families. Local partners have been able to develop a local kindergarten into a safe and nurturing place of learning for vulnerable children, especially girls. Girls often experience the risk of being left behind at a very early age. Kindergarten participation is also often too expensive for the poorest in the community. The scholarship program for girls promotes basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills as well as social and physical development.
Thanks to this small-scale project, 15 of the poorest children were successfully enrolled in elementary school in 2025 leading to increased self-confidence and improved school readiness.
Project Objectives:
- Providing scholarships for 50 vulnerable pre-school girls from the community to enable one year of kindergarten participation
- Employing teachers
- Further training for teaching staff
- Increasing early childhood learning outcomes
- Creating a solid foundation and opportunities for long-term educational success
- Sustainable social and educational development in one of Freetown’s most disadvantaged communities
- Increasing community resilience and improving community member empowerment
Activities (of the Project)
- Drafting Memorandums of Understanding with beneficiaries and parents/guardians to ensure engagement, transparency and accountability
- Providing learning materials for teachers and distributing complete school kits for girls (school bags, books, pens, erasers, rulers)
- Participatory involvement of parents and relevant community stakeholders
- Regular kindergarten operation
Results Achieved:
- 50 children were formally enrolled in school with letters of intent signed by parents
- Children and teachers received necessary learning materials
- School monitoring visits were conducted, which show an average attendance rate of 90%
- Strengthened partnerships and collaboration with parents, teachers and community leadership
- Promoted community ownership and responsibility
- Increased children’s motivation and active participation in class
- Increased enthusiasm for learning and regular school attendance
