Peace Corps Sierra Leone Marks 64 Years, Deploys Volunteers to Two Districts

Peace Corps Sierra Leone commemorated 64 years of partnership with the country on September 30, highlighting joint work in education, community development and knowledge sharing.

The anniversary also marked the deployment of a new cohort of Peace Corps volunteers to Port Loko District and Kono District, where they will work with local schools and communities.

Education remains a central focus

Volunteers currently serve in classrooms alongside Sierra Leonean teachers and pupils at different levels of the education system. Some support English teaching in elementary schools, while others work with teachers and pupils in Mathematics and Science at the junior secondary level.

The programme is intended to strengthen teaching and learning while supporting pupils’ knowledge and confidence. The partnership emphasizes collaboration with Sierra Leonean teachers rather than replacing them, with volunteers contributing through knowledge exchange and support for classroom practice.

The new deployment is expected to provide additional classroom assistance in communities where educational needs remain significant. However, the number of volunteers involved, the schools participating and the measurable results of the deployment have not been specified.

A partnership shaped by challenges

The relationship between Peace Corps volunteers and Sierra Leonean communities began in 1962. Over the years, volunteers and communities have worked together through difficult periods, including the civil war, the Ebola outbreak and subsequent recovery efforts.

The civil conflict forced volunteers to leave Sierra Leone, but Peace Corps later returned and resumed its programmes. The partnership has since continued to extend beyond volunteer placements, with an emphasis on cooperation, education and expanded opportunities for children and communities.

A continuing objective is to ensure that the knowledge and skills shared during volunteer assignments remain in schools and communities after volunteers complete their service. The anniversary message presented the partnership as a joint effort, reflecting the Krio saying, “One Hand Cannot Tie a Bundle.”

Education was also described as central to independent thinking, opportunity creation and national development through the message, “Education is the architecture of freedom.”