Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone became a well-known news item in the 1990's when it was plagued by civil war. After a decade of suffering, peace was declared in 2002. Sierra Leone has been on the mend ever since. Today, children are filling schools and the economy is slowly but surely attempting to get into shape. With stunning parks and friendly people, Sierra Leone is a rewarding place to visit.
Location in Sierra Leone:
Makeni, a small city approximately two hours inland from Freetown
Accommodation:
Guesthouse, at least two meals per day
Duration & Price:
Minimum of two weeks starting at 800 USD. See Sierra Leone fees.
In Sierra Leone, the schools are overflowing, and volunteers are needed to help increase the school’s capacity to teach and care for children. After a longstanding war, thousands of children are eager to learn, and our partner is providing an education. It is a feat with many challenges. The area in which we work is poverty stricken. Furthermore, children and their families suffer from the after-effects of war; many are now amputees, and everyone carries memories of the past as they try to move forward. Sierra Leone is now peaceful, and as communities rebuild, we are seeking compassionate individuals to help build a brighter future for Sierra Leone's children.
This is a phenomenal placement in so many ways. It is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to learn about post-conflict community development. Social work and psychology students and professionals will be challenged to adapt their skills to a cross-cultural environment. No matter what your background or experience, in even just a short amount of time, you will see how much your involvement helps local children.
Our partner is the Makama Amputee Primary School, which has approximately 150 children in attendance. 80% of the children are amputees, and many of their parents are amputees also. Children are divided according to knowledge level, rather than age. This contrasts what most of us are used to, but reflects local needs.
We work primarily in Makeni, but also work with a school on the outskirts of Freetown. While in Sierra Leone, your Exchange Manager may arrange for you to spend some time helping in Tissana Community Primary School.
Positions Available for this Project
Teach Amputee & War Affected ChildrenVolunteers are needed to teach various elementary level subjects including English, math, science, physical activity, and art. Classrooms have thirty or more children.
Duration:
2 weeks +
When:
Mid-January to Mid-June (may be long break for Easter, varies by year)
July
Mid-September to Mid December
Language:
English
Who:
Everyone with basic experience working with children or teaching. Patience is an absolute must.
Description of Activities:
- Learn about the social and economic factors affecting education in Sierra Leone
- Teach English, math, science, physical activity, and/or art
- Assist children with homework
- Assist in running extra-curricular activities for children
Teacher Trainer
Interns with an educational background are needed to share knowledge and pedagogical resources with local teachers. The purpose of this position is to increase the capacity of the school in the long term. In Sierra Leone, the schools are overflowing, and volunteers are needed to help increase the school’s capacity to share best practices with local staff.
Please note: This position is classified as an internship due to the background and skills that the intern must have. But unlike other internships, we do not require a minimum of two months. In a short amount of time, qualified professionals can deliver training and workshops to local teachers. Training takes place after school, on weekends, and during school holidays.
Duration:
2 weeks +
When:
Year round
Language:
English
Who:
Teachers who are willing and able to share their expertise
Description of Activities:
- Learn about the social and economic factors affecting education in Sierra Leone
- Learn how teachers conduct their work in Sierra Leone
- Share best practices based on your experience
- Share pedagogical knowledge based on your experience
- Develop educational materials in partnership with local staff
NGO Fundraiser for Post-Conflict Community Development
Our partners run an elementary school and a high school. They are dedicated to providing an education, nutrition, extracurricular programming, and moral support for children and youth. By diversifying and strengthening the funding base, our partners will be better able to realize their mission.
Duration:
1 month +
When:
Year round
Language:
English
Who:
Everyone. Grant-writing and marketing experience are considered assets.
Description of Activities:
- Research grant and donor opportunities
- Develop database of potential funding sources
- Write grant proposals
- Network with relevant government bodies, aid agencies, potential funders and partners
Please note:
THEX' volunteer program is operating in Makeni. We work with an extensive network of schools throughout Sierra Leone. Schools in the interior and in small villages struggle considerably more than those in the cities. If you are an experienced and independent volunteer with a month or more to commit, and would like to teach in one of these schools, please indicate this on your application. We will consider this, and a resume and interview are required.
We also work with a clinic in Freetown. If you are a healthcare professional, or are a student wanting to learn more about international health, please contact us to enquire. Healthcare volunteers must be patient and independent. Previous overseas experience is desirable. Resume and interview are required.
The Need
In Sierra Leone, you will be volunteering in Freetown, a city of one million people. Freetown is set beautifully on the West African coastline. It is a vibrant city with plentiful markets and a diverse population. However there is also widespread poverty and you will witness varying levels depending on which neighbourhoods you visit. In Freetown, you can complete a human services & childcare, education, or community development placement.
While Sierra Leone has successfully transitioned from civil war into a peaceful existence, it did not do so unscathed. The United Nations Human Development Index, an indicator of wellbeing in countries around the world, ranked Sierra Leone as one of the least developed countries in the world, third only to Afghanistan and Niger. This is an indication of widespread poverty. Over 60% of adults cannot read, and nearly half of Sierra Leoneans do not have access to clean water.
With The Humanity Exchange you can directly affect development in Sierra Leone. As a result of the civil war, there exists a huge amount of people that did not have a chance to go to school. This is exemplified by the aforementioned literacy rate. Now more than ever, youth are packing into classrooms to soak up all of the knowledge they possibly can. In Sierra Leone, our partner focuses on providing an education and improving the quality of life for youth.
History
Sierra Leone led a quiet existence for approximately five hundred years. In 1560 it became a major port in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Over the next two hundred years Portuguese and British slave-trading settlements were set up along the coast. Britain claimed to abolish slavery in 1821, and freed slaves returned from the United States. While such slaves were from throughout West Africa and beyond, they settled in Freetown. With repatriation there became a new inequality; ex-slaves became the oppressors of the native people. There has been a long lasting disparity between Freetown and the rural areas.
Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain in 1961. Though Sierra Leone attempted to assert itself independently, the people suffered as they had no real livelihood. Civil war broke out in 1992. After ten years of suffering, the war finally ended in 2002. One of the most successful United Nations Peacekeeping Missions helped to restore peace in Sierra Leone. They have successfully held free and fair elections, and it's resilient people continue to work hard to improve the quality of life in their country.
Things to See & Do
-
Banana Islands (Diving and Snorkelling)
-
Tacugama Chimpanzee Reserve
-
Bunce Island (former slave-trading fort)
-
The Cotton Tree (a five hundred year old tree of historical importance, under which slaves were bought and sold)
-
Lumley Beach
-
Sussex Beach
-
Outawa Kilimi National Park
-
Mount Bintumani
-
Big Market (as the name suggests, this is Freetown's largest market)
-
Tiwai Island Wildflife Sanctuary
Program Fees for Sierra Leone
All program fees are in USD.
|
Volunteer |
Intern |
2 weeks |
800 |
900 |
1 month |
1000 |
1100 |
2 months |
1400 |
1500 |
3 months |
1750 |
1850 |
4 months |
2100 |
2200 |
4 months |
2450 |
2550 |
4 months |
2800 |
2900 |
See program fees for all countries, and what they do and do not include.








