WHY
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Why you should donate

There’s so much basic information that Special Educators in Freetown do not know. Your donations help fund the monthly trainings, where teachers have learned research based strategies that will forever impact how they view their students and themselves as educators.

WHERE
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Where your money goes

Teachers in the Pilot Program (2021-2024) are compensated . All participants are fed during the monthly trainings.  Your donation also covers the cost of materials, internet /computer access and uninterrupted electricity throughout the 3 hour training period.   Parent training has not started yet. However, when it does, because of the stigma attached to having a child with a disability, coupled with the food insecurity in Sierra Leone, for attending and actively participating in  training, families will receive food provisions to sustain them  and their children in between training sessions.

WHAT
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What past donations have achieved

2021- In July, we launched with a 10-day in-person training, providing materials, food, uninterrupted internet, electricity, and compensation for participants. By September, we secured a fiscal sponsor, allowing us to accept tax-deductible donations. Starting in October, we launched monthly training sessions, offering materials, food, and monetary compensation, and by November, we incorporated tech space rentals to help teachers feel more comfortable with technology. In December, we hosted a special holiday training with Christmas bonuses, continuing our commitment to providing materials, food, and tech resources to empower educators.

2022- From January to June 2022, we continued monthly training sessions, providing materials, food, and monetary compensation for attendance. In July, teachers participated in a virtual raffle to win classroom supply packages, which were shipped to Freetown. From August to November, we maintained our commitment to supporting educators with materials, food, and attendance stipends. We closed the year in December with a memorable Paint Party at Bondumani Art, where teachers enjoyed a big breakfast, painted custom canvases designed by the artist, and welcomed my mother as a special guest.

2023- In 2023, we achieved several milestones in our mission to support educators. In February, we held a birthday fundraiser to support in-person training in Gambia. From January to June, we conducted virtual training sessions with materials, food, and attendance stipends provided. In July, we hosted an in-person training in Gambia, where all five teachers from our program traveled to participate. Additionally, 30 Gambian teachers attended a one-day training, and one teacher won a raffle for a 3-year training opportunity. By October, the Sierra Leone Teacher Service Commission granted us space for monthly virtual training sessions. During this time, a new cohort began their 3-year training program while Cohort 1 entered their final year.

2024-In 2024, from January to October, we continued monthly virtual trainings, providing materials, food, and attendance stipends. In December, teachers received a Christmas bonus funded by donations. We are now awaiting approval for a renewed contract to continue using space provided by the Sierra Leone Teacher Service Commission.