Who We Are

Education is Essential

We believe that the education of young men and women is essential to: unlock human potential, overcome poverty, improve wellbeing, build democracy, and that it is the cornerstone of stable development.

Our vision

Our vision is to create a democratic, dignified and globally-engaged Sierra Leone, where poverty is eliminated by educated citizens.

The Organisation

EducAid is a registered UK charity, primarily funded by individuals and charitable organisations in the UK, Europe and the United States. We were incorporated in 1995 as a Charitable Trust (1048012) and transferred into a Charitable Incorporated Entity (CIO) in 2016 (1163161), both registered under the name of EducAid Sierra Leone.

EducAid Sierra Leone is a registered non profit in Sierra Leone.

EducAid’s Head Office in Sierra Leone is based at our Freetown site; Lumley.

Our UK team; who handle the majority of governance and fundraising are now working remotely. Our registered UK address is EducAid Sierra Leone, 93 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4BA.

A Brief History

EducAid started life following a trip to Sierra Leone by James Boardman and Swithun Mason in 1993.

Financial support was sent to Sierra Leone to help students pursuing their education.

Swithun's sister, Miriam, a teacher in the UK, moved to Freetown and began to teach classes on the back veranda of a rented house in Lumley - EducAid's first school was founded.

Over the years EducAid has grown alongside the needs of the local communities in which we serve, strengthening education through a range of projects.

EducAid now runs an educational network of free schools and school improvement projects, works on gender equality and improving community resilience in addition to participating in international research and global best practice on education.

An Educaid Timeline

1993

James & Swithun visit Freetown

James Boardman and Swithun Mason visit Sierra Leone as part of a University College London trip.

1993

1994

Sponsorship Starts

James and Swithun organise family and friends to help them fund a sponsorship programme to support students in Sierra Leone.

1994

2000

EducAid Opens

Miriam moves to Freetown and opens EducAid Lumley on the back veranda of a rented house.

2000

2007

Women's Empowerment

EducAid began actively engaging with female students through our accelerated learning programme.

2007

2012

Teacher Training

Drawing on our teaching experience, we set up the QEP to provide training and development for teachers in Sierra Leone.

2012

2014

Ebola Outbreak

EducAid responded to Ebola in 3 key ways:

1. Safety of staff and residential students.

2. Remote learning of non-residential students.

3. Building orphan care centres and integrating orphans in to schools.

2014

Post-Secondary Strategy

The Leadership Course and EducAid Alumni Network started in 2014

2014

2017

EducAid’s first Doctor graduates

Past EducAid student Augustine graduates as a qualified doctor.

2017

2018

Secondary education to be free in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone passes law that Secondary Education is to be free improving access for many students

2018

2019

The ban on pregnant students was lifted in Sierra Leone

This removed some access barriers for the many female students who wished to continue their education

2019

2019 - Education Innovation Challenge (EIC)

EducAid participates in the Education Innovation Challenge (EIC) one of the biggest studies on learning outcomes ever in Sierra Leone

2019

2020

Covid-19 Pandemic

EducAid responded by:

- Ensuring safety of staff, students and local communities

- Providing remote learning via radio which reached 1.4 million children in Sierra Leone

- Participating in wider research and contributing to best practices

2020

EducAid’s Maronka showcased in World Education Week

Maronka was chosen as 1 of only 100 schools from around the world for this celebration of education and best practice

2020

2022

Miriam receives her PhD

Miriam our country Director finishes her PhD with several international publications on education

2022

The Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge

EducAid is selected for The Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC) working to increase literacy and numeracy outcomes over three years for 134,000 children

2022