The Center for Empowerment, Education, Peace and Agriculture for Rural Development (CEEPARD) Sierra Leone has completed the sixth edition of its Summer School Livelihood Support Programme, reaching 2,500 less-privileged children and women-led households across communities in the Western Area Rural District.

Table Of Content

Learning materials and bicycles distributed
Six school centres involved
CEEPARD signals further expansion

The 2026 initiative ended on September 22 with a donation and distribution ceremony at Bassa Town Field in Waterloo. CEEPARD said the programme combined free intensive summer classes with educational materials and other support for children from vulnerable backgrounds.

Learning materials and bicycles distributed

Beneficiaries received school bags, books, pens, pencils and geometry sets. Selected children who travel long distances to school were also given bicycles, according to CEEPARD.

Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray, Deputy Executive Director of CEEPARD Sierra Leone, said the programme was created to help children facing difficulties attending or remaining in school.

“We have a lot of school-going pupils that drop out because they say they don’t have bags, pens or pencils to go to school,” Mansaray said.

He said the number of beneficiaries rose from 1,500 pupils supported in the 2025 edition to 2,500 in 2026. Mansaray described the programme as part of CEEPARD’s contribution to widening access to education and supporting national efforts to improve educational opportunities.

Six school centres involved

The programme was delivered through six school centres: GEM School in Mabureh Community, REC School in Bassa Town, Sahid High School in Bassa Town along Old Road, Liverpool Islamic School in Grass Field, Memzo Memorial Community School in New London and the Islamic Foundation in Masorie.

The ceremony brought together children, parents, teachers, community stakeholders, volunteers, interns and ambassadors. CEEPARD also acknowledged support associated with COFA International and other contributors named during the programme.

CEEPARD signals further expansion

Hamid Ibrahim Sesay, Executive Director of CEEPARD Sierra Leone, said the 2,500 children reached reflected a shared commitment by the organisation, its partners and community stakeholders to invest in education.

Sesay also credited the contribution of volunteers, interns and ambassadors to the programme’s outcome, telling them: “You are the bedrocks of CEEPARD Sierra Leone.”

“The successful completion of the 2026 programme is not the end of the journey. It is another step towards reaching more children, strengthening educational opportunities and building stronger communities through collective action,” he said.

CEEPARD said it intends to expand the Summer School Livelihood Support Programme in future years, subject to available resources and continued backing from partners and donors. Mansaray appealed to organisations, individual donors and development partners to maintain their support.