Rehabilitation for devastated schools in Sierra Leone
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| 30 damaged schools have been rehabilitated |
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Sierra Leone was already amongst the world’s poorest countries when a series of devastating internal conflicts began in 1991. The most recent UN Human Development Index ranks Sierra Leone as the country with the second lowest quality of life (after Niger) and the highest under-5 mortality rate in the world.
The impact of the conflict, which lasted for almost 10 years, has been both physical and psychological. Vulnerable children were manipulated or forced into fighting, women in particular suffered from atrocities such as rape, mutilation and abduction.
It is estimated that, at one point, over two million Sierra Leoneans were either internally displaced or refugees in neighbouring countries.
For the vast majority of people in the country, life is still consumed by the challenge of survival, which is threatened by disease, malnutrition and the limited availability or complete lack of basic services.
The project
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| All schools have been provided with clean water |
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Plan, with funding from the Big Lottery Fund, is addressing children’s lack of access to safe and healthy learning environments in the districts of Bombali and Port Loko, where these problems are particularly acute.
Bombali was the principal stronghold of the main faction group, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) who occupied it from 1997 until November 2001 and suffered massive destruction of physical and social structures, including most of the schools.
Through reconstructing/rehabilitating 30 damaged schools in these areas, Plan aims to give children the education they are entitled to and achieve long-lasting improvement in their social, emotional, physical and intellectual development.
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| Children's rights are a major issue |
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Teacher training: Supporting much-needed training for 720 teachers and for 120 School Management Committees with parents participation.
Learning materials: Providing learning and teaching materials to ensure that all the schools are well-maintained and that teachers have the right resources to provide quality education, such as textbooks, teacher guides and school supplies (e.g. pens, rulers, exercise books).
Water pumps and latrines: Each of the schools will have clean, fresh water and latrines. A sanitary environment, with running water, is important for the health of children and to encourage parents to keep sending them to school.
Awareness activities: Raising children’s awareness on girl-child education, HIV/AIDS prevention, and peace building and reconciliation through groups, workshops, meetings, plays and art is essential for their social development.
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