Fri, 2 June
Coming soon! The beautiful debut cookbook by Maria Bradford – Sweet Salone. In this stunning celebration of Sierra Leonean culture, you’ll find stories and recipes passed down generations with a modern twist, and a glimpse into some of the exquisite ingredients West African cuisine has to offer.
EducAid is proud to have Maria joining us as a role model on our empowerment work; through the Strong Girl Incubator Program and Girl Power Group. Find out more about our empowerment work through the link in our bio (https://www.educaid.org.uk/gender-equality/)
Mon, 5 Jun
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Sierra Leone’s coastline stretches for about 400 kilometres, with pristine beaches and coastal landscapes that attract tourists and visitors. This beauty and biodiversity contribute to Sierra Leone’s appeal as a tourist destination, promoting economic growth and development.
The ocean is one of Sierra Leone’s key resources. Our coastal waters are rich in marine resources. The ocean provides a source of livelihood for many communities engaged in fishing activities. The fishing industry not only supplies local markets but also exports fish and seafood products, generating foreign exchange earnings for the country. The ocean also offers potential for harnessing renewable energy sources. Offshore wind and wave energy projects can diversify the energy mix and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
It is very important to manage this important resource sustainably. At EducAid, we help our pupils to develop an environmental awareness. They learn about biodiversity and the importance of preserving the balance that exists in nature. We promote responsible practices such as reducing waste, reusing and recycling. We empower them to make choices that can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.
Photos – Hello Sierra Leone: an EducAid partner who is showing the world the beauty of the real Sierra Leone, connecting visitors and locals to empower sustainable change.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #WorldEnvironmentDay #WorldEnvironmentDay2023 #ocean #WorldOceanDay #WorldOceanDay2023 #EnvironmentalAwareness #SustainableFuture
The ocean is one of our most important resources.
EducAid students learn to manage this resource sustainably.
Photos from EducAid partner – Hello Sierra Leone
Thu, 8 June
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Working to stop gender-based violence and to improve equality needs action and participation from both men and women. EducAid schools engage with boys and young men to promote gender equality and healthy relationships through the White Ribbon Campaign. These weekly sessions challenge traditional behaviours and promote transformative cultural change that encompasses equality and says no to violence against women and girls.
The WRC is a positive place for boys and young men to question power dynamics in their actions or their words at the personal, interpersonal and societal level and to take responsibility for change. This allows men to work together as advocates to address gender based violence and redefine masculine identities, and ensure that these messages are carried from the classroom to the streets.
Find out more about our gender equality work – https://www.educaid.org.uk/gender-equality/
#educaid #genderequality #whiteribboncampaign #equality #engagement #education
Saturday, 10 Jun
At EducAid Maronka Primary School we have a Buddy Bench. This is a safe place where anyone who might be feeling sad, confused or lonely can sit to signal to others that they need a friend to talk to or play with.
Buddy Benches help combat isolation and bullying in schools. They were first introduced in Germany, and have been used in schools around the world. They are symbols of inclusion and kindness, and are used to teach children and young people about empathy and friendship for all.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #buddybench #inclusion #friendship
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At EducAid Maronka Primary School we have a Buddy Bench. This is a safe place where anyone who might be feeling sad, confused or lonely can sit to signal to others that they need a friend to talk to or play with.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #buddybench #inclusion #friendship
Mon, 12 Jun
Child labour is a violation of children’s fundamental rights. It denies them the opportunity to receive education, grow, and develop in a safe and nurturing environment. The World Day Against Child Labour helps to raise awareness on the need to protect children from exploitation and ensure their rights are upheld. For us at EducAid, it is yet another opportunity to talk about how education is a powerful tool to eradicate poverty and ensure sustainable development.
Education plays a crucial role in breaking the poverty cycle by providing individuals with the necessary knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve their socio-economic status. Child labour provides an immediate financial support to families, but it often deprives children of the opportunity to attend school and receive the education they need to access jobs and careers that can allow them to break the cycle of poverty, and to become future leaders and contributors to society.
Since 2000, EducAid has been providing free, high-quality education for children from the poorest backgrounds. Our focus is on eliminating the barriers that prevent children and young people from attending and succeeding in school, including those harmful social norms that perpetuate gender inequalities. Through education, children and young people are empowered to understand their rights, voice their concerns and become advocates for change. By promoting the right to education, we can contribute to creating a more equitable and prosperous society.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #WorldDayAgainstChildLabour
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Child labour denies children the opportunity to receive education, grow, and develop in a safe and nurturing environment. The World Day Against Child Labour helps to raise awareness on the need to protect children from exploitation and ensure their rights are upheld. For us at EducAid, it is yet another opportunity to celebrate education as a powerful tool to eradicate poverty and ensure sustainable development.
Through education children and young people acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to access jobs and careers that can allow them to break the cycle of poverty, and to become future leaders and contributors to society.
EducAid provides free, high-quality education for children from the poorest backgrounds. Through education, children and young people are empowered to understand their rights, voice their concerns and become advocates for change. By promoting the right to education, we can contribute to creating a more equitable and prosperous society.
Say no to Child Labour! Children belong in school!
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #WorldDayAgainstChildLabour
The World Day Against Child Labour helps to raise awareness on the need to protect children from exploitation. For us at EducAid, it is an opportunity to celebrate education as a powerful tool to ensure sustainable development. Say no to Child Labour! Children belong in school!
Wed, 14 Jun
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Through our Strong Girl Incubator, we help girls and young women acquire the necessary skills and confidence to be successful in secondary school and beyond. Confidence is not about being perfect or having all the answers. It is about believing in oneself, embracing strengths and weaknesses, and having the courage to take on challenges.
Unfortunately, girls and young women often face societal pressures and stereotypes that can undermine their self-esteem and confidence. Building confidence helps girls challenge these expectations and define their own path in life. It enables them to pursue their interests, ambitions, and dreams without being limited by preconceived notions of what they should or shouldn’t do.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #SGI #girls #girlseducation #confidence #skills
Through our Strong Girl Incubator, we help girls and young women acquire the necessary skills and confidence to be successful in secondary school and beyond. Confidence is not about being perfect or having all the answers. It is about believing in oneself, embracing strengths and weaknesses, and having the courage to take on challenges.
Thurs, 15 June
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Sweet Salone is out in one month and available for pre-order now!
In addition to receiving a beautiful copy of the book, your order also supports charities working in Sierra Leone – EducAid, A Girl At A Time, Action on Poverty and Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. For each copy pre-ordered @quadrillebooks will donate $5 to the charity of your choice, working to build a stronger future for Sierra Leone.
@shwenshwenbymaria is also running a giveaway to win a special gift box of Sierra Leonean products (including 6 delicious Shwen Shwen drinks and 2 chilli sauces) for all of those who pre-order and enter the details through the link in bio.
Please order your copy today – link in bio.
Fri, 16 Jun
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The International Day of the African Child is observed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in Africa, and to promote their rights and well-being. The day emphasizes the importance of investing in education, healthcare, and social support systems to empower African children and ensure they are protected from violence and exploitation.
EducAid provides free, high-quality primary and secondary education to children and young people in Sierra Leone to unlock their potential and help them overcome poverty.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #InternationalDayoftheAfricanChild #Africa #children
The International Day of the African Child is observed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in Africa. EducAid provides free, high-quality education to children and young people in Sierra Leone to unlock their potential and help them overcome poverty.
Sun, 18 Jun
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Happy Father’s Day!
Today we are celebrating all of the father’s and father figures who play such crucial roles in our lives. Thank you for all you are and all that you do! Wishing everyone a beautiful day.
Pictured: EducAid staff with their children <3
(Top left : Mamadu, top right: Foday, bottom left: AJ, bottom right: Kai)
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #fathersday2023 #thankyou
Mon, 19 Jun
Small Charity Week (19-23 June) – Twitter (Erin)
Tue, 20 Jun
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Welcome to EducAid’s Book Club!
“Thank You, Omu!” is a picture book by debut author-illustrator Oge Mora, who brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community inspired by the strong female role models in her life.
The story is about Omu, who cooks a stew for dinner. When its scrumptious scent spreads throughout the neighbourhood, everyone dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious food! One by one, members of the community knock on her door to ask her for some of the stew, which Omu always gives. When Omu is ready for dinner, there is no more stew left. However, the community knows how to show their gratitude.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #EducAidBookClub #bookclub #ThankYouOmu
Welcome to EducAid’s Book Club! “Thank You, Omu!” is a picture book by debut author-illustrator Oge Mora, who brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community inspired by the strong female role models in her life.
Sat, 24 Jun
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Today is election day in Sierra Leone. Elections are a cornerstone of democracy as they provide a platform for citizens to have a say in shaping their nation’s future.
We wish everyone a peaceful and meaningful election day.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #elections2023
Mon, 26 Jun
Art holds immense value for children and plays a vital role in their overall development. Engaging in art activities supports children’s cognitive development by enhancing critical thinking and decision-making skills. Art encourages children to observe, analyse, and interpret the world around them, fostering their ability to think creatively and express themselves in unique ways. Through drawing, painting, sculpting, or other forms of artistic expression, children can communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences that may be challenging to express through words alone. Art provides a safe and open space for children to freely express their emotions, ideas, and perspectives. Engaging in art and experiencing the joy of creating something unique fosters a sense of accomplishment, boosting children’s self-confidence and self-esteem. Art also helps children develop spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills as they manipulate art materials and tools. It can serve as a therapeutic outlet for children, allowing them to cope with stress, anxiety, or other challenging emotions. Art helps children develop respect for others’ ideas and encourages them to appreciate and learn from different artistic styles and approaches.
This year our pupils at Maronka Primary School were engaged in an art project that resulted in the creation of original illustrated storybooks. Coached by our volunteer Laura with support from EducAid’s teachers, the children could experience a variety of activities using different art materials (pens, pencils, chalks, paints, inks, beads) to practise developing ideas independently and exercising their artistic freedom. They enjoyed the celebration of everybody’s work and the sense of accomplishment coming from peer validation. After that, children started working on creating their own story books. The first step was discussing a theme for the story books. Children were asked to discuss in a group what they thought “hope” meant. After that, they read together a picture book, and Laura helped them identify the key features of a children’s book, such as short sentences and colourful illustrations. Then, they started creating their own story books based on “hope”. They developed a storyboard, learned how to combine illustrations with sentences and drew them with pens and watercolours. At the end, each child could create their own original illustrated storybook and share it with the others who gave them feedback. Laura then edited the storybooks on her computer and printed multiple copies for the Maronka library.
We are very grateful to Laura for dedicating her time and energy to this project. By sharing their experience and skills to support others, volunteers inspire and motivate us, and contribute to creating a more compassionate, inclusive, and thriving world.
Thank you!
In the picture – pupils reading the storybooks
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #art #maronka #childrenbook #storybooks #volunteers
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Art offers children a multitude of benefits, ranging from fostering creativity and self-expression to supporting cognitive, emotional, and social development. It provides a platform for children to explore, imagine, communicate, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Coached by our volunteer Laura with support from EducAid’s teachers, our pupils at Maronka Primary School were engaged in an art project that resulted in the creation of original illustrated storybooks. Each child developed a storyboard and drew illustrations using pens and watercolours. The books were then edited on a computer and printed out for the Maronka library.
We are very grateful to Laura for dedicating her time and energy to this project. By sharing their experience and skills to support others, volunteers inspire and motivate us, and contribute to creating a more compassionate, inclusive, and thriving world.
In the picture – pupils reading the storybooks
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #art #artproject #maronka #childrenbook #storybooks #hope #volunteers #volunteerism
Our pupils at Maronka Primary School were engaged in an art project that resulted in the creation of their original illustrated storybooks. The books were then edited on a computer and printed out for the Maronka library.
In the pictures – pupils reading the storybooks
Tue, 27 Jun
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Our youngest students in Maronka start in the Hummingbirds class, where they learn how to recognise, name and write the letters of the alphabet, and the sounds they make. They also learn key fundamentals of maths, such as counting and recognising numbers. We support children developing important language and literacy skills, and also the social, emotional and cognitive skills that are the foundation of their future learning and growth.
The early years of a child’s life are a period of rapid brain development. High-quality early childhood education helps strengthen neural connections and lay the groundwork for future learning. It also fosters social and emotional development by providing opportunities for children to interact and establish relations with peers and adults outside of their family environment. Early childhood education provides a nurturing environment that promotes growth, ensuring children are prepared for formal schooling and equipped with essential skills for life.
#EducAid #education #SierraLeone #Maronka #earlychildhood #earlychildhoodeducation #preprimary #kindergarten
In our Hummingbirds class at Maronka Primary school our youngest students are supported to develop important language and literacy skills, and also the social, emotional and cognitive skills that are the foundation of their future learning and growth.
Wed, 28 Jun – Eid-Ul-Adah (Feast of Sacrifice) t.b.c.
Wishing a peaceful and joyful Eid Ul Adha to those who are celebrating in Sierra Leone and around the world.
#EducAid #Education #SierraLeone#eidmubarak #eiduladha2023
