The most vulnerable teenage girls in Sierra Leone face huge challenges to overcome poverty and start a meaningful career. This ranges from abuse, a lack of safe spaces to learn in, and harmful social norms such as FGM and child marriage. The issues facing young girls were worsened during and following the Ebola outbreak, with schools closing and many girls never returning, despite the introduction of a free education initiative by the current Government of Sierra Leone.

Restless Development is working with 13,000 of the most vulnerable 13-17 year old girls across Sierra Leone. We are making sure they have the knowledge and skills they need to change their own lives through education and by starting meaningful careers. The project is called 'Leave No Girl Behind', and is match funded by the UK government.

We are setting up “safe spaces” in 120 communities in Sierra Leone, which girls can access anytime they need a safe place to go, and where we will support girls to overcome the barriers that they face in life. Trained Facilitators and Mentors will also run sessions with girls on literacy, numeracy, life skills, and business skills. The girls in the programme have either never been to school, or have been out of school for over two years and don’t have basic numeracy or literacy skills.

Every girl will take part in a one year learning programme. By the end of it, girls will be able to either start going to school, or start a meaningful career by taking part in apprenticeship-style training or taking a vocational course. Ultimately, they will be equipped to decide for themselves the direction that they want their life to take.

100% of your donations go directly to the Leave No Girl Behind project in Sierra Leone.

• £2 buys a calculator for one girl.
• £5 buys a backpack for one girl.
• £7 buys one chair and table for one girl.
• £15 buys exercise books for 15 girls.
• £20 buys a chalkboard for one safe space.
• £50 buys backpacks for ten girls.
• £150 builds a ramp for disabled girls to enter a safe space.
• £175 furnishes a whole safe space (25 chairs and tables).