By Mariama Bundu
On Thursday, 28th May 2026, Street Child Sierra Leone organized an educational support distribution programme at the YWCA Hall under the theme “Earning for Learning.” The project focuses on supporting vulnerable children living in slum communities by providing educational materials and empowering their caregivers through entrepreneurship support.
The programme targets children who are either out of school or at risk of dropping out due to poverty and lack of educational support.
During the event, school materials including bags, writing materials, reading materials, and uniforms were distributed to children from vulnerable communities within the Freetown Municipality.
Speaking at the event, Project Coordinator Emmanuel Samuel Burk explained that the “Earning for Learning” project is currently working closely with eight vulnerable communities during its first phase, including Krube, Aberdeen Crab Tong, Congo Tong Wharf, and Ferry Junction Culvert.
According to him, baseline surveys conducted at the start of the project identified hundreds of vulnerable children of primary school age who were either not attending school or were at risk of dropping out because their parents could not afford the cost of education.
“To address this challenge, we created a business and entrepreneurship training platform for caregivers within the communities,” he stated. “More than 1,001 caregivers received entrepreneurship and business development training, followed by financial grants to help them establish small businesses.”
He further explained that business development officers continue to mentor and supervise beneficiaries to ensure the sustainability of the businesses established through the project.
Mr. Burk emphasized that the long-term goal of the project is to ensure that children remain in school by supporting both their education and the economic stability of their families.
“Development in any country starts with primary education. When children between the ages of six and eight are neglected, then the nation is not heading in the right direction,” he said.
He also noted that the project places strong emphasis on girls’ education and female empowerment, as more girls than boys are currently benefiting from the initiative.
During the ceremony, representatives from the beneficiary communities expressed appreciation to Street Child Sierra Leone for providing financial grants, entrepreneurship training, and educational support. Community members explained that beneficiaries are also contributing through local savings schemes commonly known as “Osusu,” where members contribute monthly amounts to help provide school materials for children within their communities.
A total of 504 children benefited from the first phase of the educational package distribution, with another 504 children expected to receive support during the second day of the exercise.
Communities benefiting from the current distribution include Aberdeen Crab Tong and Congo Tong, while distributions for Krube and Ferry Junction Culvert are scheduled for the following day.
The “Earning for Learning” project continues to demonstrate Street Child Sierra Leone’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable children have access to quality education while strengthening the livelihoods of families within marginalized communities.
