The Things That Keep a Child in School: Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) Supports 147 Orphaned Children in Sierra Leone 

When Financial Hardship Reaches the Classroom

For many children in Sierra Leone, poverty affects much more than what is available at home. It can determine whether a child has enough food, receives medical care, or is able to remain in school.

UNICEF reports that two-thirds of children in Sierra Leone experience poverty in more than one area of life, affecting nutrition, health, education and protection. At the same time, only 0.8% of children are covered by social protection systems, leaving many vulnerable families with little formal support when circumstances become difficult. 

For a child who has also lost one or both parents, those pressures can become even harder to absorb.

147 Children Supported in Six Districts

From July 10 through July 29, 2026, Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) provided sponsorship support to 147 orphaned children under age 18 in Western Rural, Western Urban, Bombali, Port Loko, Bo and Kailahun districts.

The group included 73 girls and 74 boys. Rather than distributing fixed food packages, LIFE provided sponsorship assistance through caregivers so families could respond to the needs that were most urgent for each child.

That assistance was used for essentials including food, clothing, school materials and other daily needs. It also helped caregivers cover school fees, uniforms, textbooks and medical care when children become sick.

When a School Uniform Can Decide Whether a Child Attends

Before receiving support, some children in the program had already stopped attending school because their caregivers could not afford education-related expenses.

Others were living with inadequate nutrition or limited access to healthcare. Financial pressure had pushed some children toward street-based work, increasing their exposure to exploitation and other risks.

Sponsorship helped families pay for the things that make regular school attendance possible: fees, uniforms, textbooks and basic learning materials. Children who had left school were able to return, while others continued their education without the same level of disruption.

Fatmata No Longer Has to Arrive Unprepared

Fatmata, age 12, lost both of her parents and now lives with her aunt.

Her aunt was already caring for several children, and there was often not enough money to cover everyone's needs. Fatmata sometimes missed school because she did not have books or a uniform.

She remembered the embarrassment of watching classmates arrive prepared while she had nothing.

Since entering LIFE's sponsorship program, her aunt has been able to purchase school materials, provide food and keep Fatmata attending classes consistently. Fatmata said:

“I feel loved and encouraged to work hard in my studies.”

She now hopes to become a nurse so she can help people in her community.

Mohamed Thought He Might Have to Leave School

For Mohamed, age 14, the concern was even more direct.

After his father died, his mother relied on small jobs to support the family, but her earnings were not enough to consistently cover food, school expenses and other necessities.

Mohamed said there were times when he believed he would need to leave school and start working to help his family.

With sponsorship assistance, his mother has been better able to provide meals, cover education costs and take him to a clinic when he becomes sick. Mohamed can now concentrate more fully on his studies, and he hopes to become an engineer.

His experience shows how financial support can protect more than a child's immediate needs. It can also protect the time a child needs to remain a student rather than becoming an income earner too soon.

Aminata Can Plan Beyond Tomorrow

Aminata, age 16, lives with her grandmother after losing her father. Her grandmother has no regular income, and there were times when the two went to sleep unsure what they would eat the following day. School expenses added another layer of uncertainty.

Sponsorship helped the family purchase food and cover Aminata's education costs. She now attends school regularly and says she has regained confidence in continuing her education. Her goal is to become a doctor and care for vulnerable children and families herself.

Reaching Children Even When the Road Is Difficult

One of the project's practical challenges was simply reaching families. Several participating communities are remote, and field teams did not have a dedicated project vehicle. Staff relied on buses and taxis for beneficiary verification, monitoring visits, follow-up and sponsorship distributions.

Travel therefore took longer and required careful scheduling, but all planned activities were completed, and children received their assistance without delay.

Protecting a Child's Place in School

Life for Relief and Development sincerely thanks the donors who made this sponsorship possible.

For 147 orphaned children in Sierra Leone, the assistance helped families meet immediate needs while protecting something that can shape the years ahead: the ability to remain in school.

A notebook, a uniform, a meal or a clinic visit may seem like separate expenses. For a child living with financial hardship, together they can determine whether education remains possible at all.