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Why Educate Girls?

All girls, regardless of the circumstances in which they were born, have the right to a quality education. A quality education provides the foundation for an individual to realize his or her dreams.

In Africa, over twenty-four million girls do not attend primary school, and boys outnumber girls in school attendance by at least 8 percent.  And of those girls who do enroll, 9 percent more drop out before the end of the sixth grade than boys. Source: Carol Bellamy, “Statement on the Launch of the Girls Education Movement, “ Uganda, August 15, 2001.

What’s the Difference Between a Teenager in Sierra Leone and a Teenager in the United States and Why Do We Care?

The inky black darkness of night is receding as the sun goes up.  It’s 7 am and I hear the dreaded footsteps of my mother on her way up the stairs.  In a matter of seconds, she opens my door, turns on my light, nudges my shoulder, and tells me “it’s time to wake up.”  5000 miles west and four hours earlier (West Africa is 5 hours ahead of the East Coast), a 15-year-old girl awakens to her alarm clock.  However, instead of the nudging of her mother or a wailing alarm clock, she hears the clucks and screeches of hens and roosters outside of her home.

Change - It Starts with Us

Education connects all human beings together and is a fundamental human right.  Thanks to education we learn about the fundamentals of the world and the lessons that come with it. 

Education has been a jewel from the start, with a broad category of topics we can learn about and implement in our lives. It provides pathways for the people of today to learn from the past, learn of the present, and learn how to make their futures full of discoveries.

Small Donations Make a Difference

On our trip to Sierra Leone (see previous blog post), my wife and I had the opportunity to briefly visit the village of Kamawornie, tour the local primary and secondary schools, and meet with teachers, students, and parents.  Our short stay in the village opened our eyes though to not only the desperate requirement for basic educational resources, but also to the fact that for a few dollars we could meaningfully address this need.

Our Extraordinary Trip to Sierra Leone - Parker and Lisa

My wife and I returned in February 2020 from an extraordinary trip to Sierra Leone.  I retired in 2019 after a 35-year career in banking and as part of my new journey became involved with Develop Africa.  The founder, Sylvester Renner, and I agreed that to appreciate and understand the impact of the organization fully, I should travel to the country, meet with the local team, and visit the various projects in both Freetown and more remote villages.  As my wife and I told Sylvester on our return, the experience was life-transforming.

Everything Changes When A Girl is Educated

When the former US president Barack Obama visited Kenya in 2015, one of his remarks that remained etched into the psyche of his audience was his pearl of wisdom on equality.

You know, we're in a sports center. Imagine if you have a team and you don't let half of the team play. That's stupid. That makes no sense,” the president quipped.

Dangers Street Children Face in Sierra Leone and Possible Ways This Can Be Resolved

 I live in Sierra Leone, and on a daily basis I see chronically neglected, traumatized, homeless children and adolescents, even young children walking around the streets of Freetown with ragged clothes and mostly in unhealthy situations begging for food, money or any small odd jobs that could provide them food and other basic necessities and these acts usually exposes them to the danger of violence and drug abuse.

How To Transform Gender Education Statistics In Sierra Leone

Gender discussions are mostly among heated topical issues not only in Sierra Leone but the world at large. For discussions like this, it is but imperative to unearth the meaning of Gender which stands as the centrality in this topic, and which also holds bearing to the economic, social, political, and cultural characteristics and opportunities related to both Women and Men. The social definitions of what it actually means to be a woman or a man vary among cultures and is constantly changing as time passes by.

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Families in Sierra Leone face unprecedented challenges due to rising costs. Inflation makes it difficult for them to afford basic food staples such as rice, cooking oil, and onions.

Extending a helping hand can alleviate a significant burden and provide essential relief to the less fortunate.

Help provide relief by donating today!

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Give the Gift of Joy This Holiday Season 🎁


You can light up a child's life in Africa this holiday season. Imagine the joy of a young girl opening her very first book or a boy receiving a backpack filled with school supplies to fuel his dreams. For many children, a holiday gift isn't just a moment of happiness – it’s a message of hope, love, and possibility.

At Develop Africa, we believe every child deserves to feel special, especially during the holidays. But for too many children in underserved communities, the season comes and goes without even a small token of celebration. With your help, we can change that.

A donation of just $25 can provide a meaningful gift – a backpack, school supplies, or even a toy – to a needy child. Your generosity will show them that someone far away cares deeply about their future and happiness.

Make this holiday season unforgettable for a child. Please donate now to our Holiday Gift for a Child campaign and be part of a life-changing moment. Together, we can spread joy, ignite hope, and make the holidays magical for children in Africa.