We are proud to announce the successful completion of our Year of the Pencil campaign, delivering 100,000 pencils and learning pouches to 10,000 children in 20 schools across Sierra Leone. This historic distribution was designed to equip young learners with the basic tools they need to thrive in school.
The official launch ceremony was held in Freetown and graced by the Mayor of Freetown, who personally handed out the first set of pouches to pupils at the Regent Square Municipal School. Her presence set a tone of celebration, encouragement, and hope as students received their supplies with excitement and pride.
A Transformational Moment for Students and Schools
Speaking at the launch, Sylvester Renner, President & Founder of Develop Africa, expressed heartfelt gratitude and emphasized the profound impact of this initiative:
“A pencil is small, but the opportunity it unlocks is enormous. When a child is equipped to write, to draw, to imagine, their future opens up. Today, because of the generosity of our supporters, 10,000 children now have the tools to learn confidently.”
This campaign is more than a distribution; it is a statement of commitment to education, dignity, and equal opportunity for every child. Teachers expressed their appreciation, noting that many students arrive at school without pencils, which limits their ability to participate and progress. Schools welcomed the initiative as a timely intervention at the start of the academic year.
See photos
The twenty schools that received pencils during the distribution are:
FAWE Primary School for Girls-https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/FAWE-Primary-School
Stella Maris Primary School, Juba Hill, Lumley- https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Stella-Maris-Primary-School-
Dantrimark Academy, Devil Hole, Waterloo - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Dantrimark-Academy
Rural Education Community Primary School (REC), Bathurst- https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/REC-Primary-School-Bathurst
Rural Education Community Primary School (REC), Adonkia, Goderich -https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/REC-Primary-School-Adonkia
Pentecostal Primary/secondary school, Regent Road, Lumley - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Pentecostal-Primary-Secondary-School
Harvest Primary School, Regent Road, Lumley - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Harvest-Primary-School
Hope Academy for Girls, York village, Peninsular - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Hope-Academy
Emmett Primary School, Lumley community - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Emmett-Primary-School
Rural Education Community Primary School (REC), Ogoo Farm, Goderich - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/REC-Primary-School-Ogoo
D. T. Akibo-Betts Municipal Infant Primary School, Tower Hill - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/DT-Akibo-Betts-School
East End Municipal Infant Primary School, Kennedy Street - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/East-End-Municipal-Primary-School
E. J. Robinson Municipal Infant Primary School, Congo Town- https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/E-J-Robinson-Municipal-Primary-School
Islamia Municipal Infant Primary School - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Islamia-Municipal-Primary-School
Juba Army Municipal Infant Primary School - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Juba-Army-Municipal-Primary-School
Kingtom Police Infant Primary School, Kingtom - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Kingtom-Police-School
Model Municipal Infant Primary School, Horseshoe Road, Kissy Dockyard - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Model-Municpal-Primary-School
Murray Town Municipal Infant Primary School, Murray Town Community - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Murray-Town-Municipal-Primary-School
Regent Square Municipal Infant Primary School - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Regent-Square-Municipal-Primary-School
Tower Hill Municipal Infant Primary School, Tower Hill Community - https://developafrica.smugmug.com/2025/Tower-Hill-Primary-School
Year of the Pencil - Join Us In Making History and Empowering Education