By Mariama Bundu
More than 35,000 vulnerable children across Sierra Leone have been directly enrolled in primary schools under the Education For Every Child Today (EFECT) programme implemented by Street Child – Sierra Leone.
The organisation disclosed this during a press briefing held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, where it highlighted achievements recorded over the past four years.
Addressing the media, Country Director Emmanuel Kelfa Kargbo said the initiative has made measurable impact nationwide, particularly in promoting gender equality in education. He noted that 52 percent of the beneficiaries enrolled under the programme are girls, describing it as a deliberate effort to reduce gender disparities in access to schooling.
The EFECT programme, supported by the Qatar Fund for Development, focuses on expanding access to education for vulnerable children while strengthening the economic resilience of their families.
Since 2022, the project has reached children in some of the country’s most underserved communities, providing not only enrolment support but also long-term strategies to ensure retention and academic success.
In addition to facilitating school enrolment, approximately 11,500 caregivers have benefited from the Family Business for Education (FBE) scheme. Through this initiative, caregivers received enterprise training, cash grants and tailored business support aimed at increasing household income.
According to Kargo, 92 percent of the enterprise grants were awarded to women, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to empowering mothers and female caregivers as key drivers of children’s continued education.
“Enrolment alone is not enough,” the Country Director emphasised. “Poverty remains one of the biggest drivers of school dropout. By supporting families economically, we are strengthening their ability to keep children in school and support their learning.”
He explained that the organisation’s integrated approach combines education support with economic empowerment, ensuring that children not only gain access to school but remain and succeed in their studies.
Street Child of Sierra Leone reaffirmed its commitment to reaching more vulnerable communities across the country, stressing that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and build a better future.
