There currently exists a striking gender gap in education in Sierra Leone. Roughly 60 percent of girls who enter Primary School do not make it to Secondary School. This disparity exists for a number of reasons, including:-. Unaffordable tuition resulting in the inability for parents to pay school fees and provide necessary school materials. While primary schooling is free, secondary education is n
ot;
Academic underachievement - students who do not perform well on the primary exit examinations are unlikely to be accepted into a Junior Secondary School;
Social norms that place emphasis on male education mean that families often elect to invest more heavily in the education of male children;
Sexual exploitation of girls reaching puberty, resulting in teenage pregnancy or early marriages has unfortunately become very prevalent. While the economy in Sierra Leone is set to improve, without education the distribution of wealth will still be skewed, especially against women. There is a desperate need for well-rounded education and thereby empowerment of girl children in Sierra Leone, such that they can be assured of a brighter future. Our Approach:
Hope Academy For Girls (HAFG) is a formal 6 years of Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) primarily for girls from less privileged backgrounds. Targeted girls are those who are either on the verge of dropping out of the school system as a result of underachieved grades, financial constraints, abuse and exploitation. These risk factors form part of the criteria for new intakes. Location:
The school is located in York Village on the Peninsular Circular Road in the Western Area Rural District. Funding:
The school is primarily funded through donations and sponsorships. However, the goal is for the school to become self-sufficient through its community outreach programs and professional services e.g. adult education targeting the business community, school store, etc.
