The Australian-based Non-Governmental Organization, One Girl, on Thursday, 11th September, 2025 donated a wide range of school supplies to 100 girls currently enrolled in its scholarship scheme in Sierra Leone. The initiative forms part of the organization’s wider commitment to complement Government efforts to expand access to education for girls, particularly those from disadvantaged and underserved communities.

The donation ceremony, which took place in Freetown, brought together parents, guardians, beneficiaries and women leaders advocating for female empowerment. Speaking at the event, Sia Lajaku-Williams, Programs and Partnerships Director of One Girl, explained that the NGO is currently operating exclusively in Sierra Leone. She revealed that for the 2025 academic year, 100 girls are benefiting from its flagship Girls-in-School Programme, with 45 students based in Freetown and 55 in Mile 91, Tonkolili District.

According to Sia Lajaku-Williams, the Girls-in-School Programme provides full sponsorship for both Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) pupils. The packages distributed included two sets of regular school uniforms, one ceremonial uniform, a school t-shirt, six subject textbooks (English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Home Economics and Agriculture), a scientific calculator, geometry set, two pairs of school shoes, two school belts, a felt hat and beret, eight exercise books, socks for both daily and ceremonial use, a box of pens and a three-month supply of sanitary pads.

She added that the program also covers a monthly lunch stipend, pays for extra lessons and ensures continued provision of sanitary pads during monthly scholar meetings. Lajaku-Williams further clarified that to be eligible, applicants must be girls enrolled in public secondary schools within the Western Area or Tonkolili District, classified as vulnerable and at risk of dropping out and not already benefiting from another scholarship initiative.

Beyond material and financial support, One Girl also organizes monthly mentoring and counseling sessions to promote retention and academic success.

Two scholarship beneficiaries spoke during the ceremony, expressing heartfelt appreciation. Isatu Esther Kaine praised One Girl’s intervention, explaining that without the organization’s assistance, she might have been forced to leave school. She encouraged fellow recipients to take full advantage of the opportunity and remain steadfast in their studies.

Alice N. Turay, who has benefited from One Girl’s support for the past five years, shared her personal experience. She explained that after losing her mother, she encountered serious financial obstacles that nearly derailed her education. However, thanks to sustained assistance from the organization, she has been able to remain in school and pursue her academic ambitions.

The scholarship drive, according to observers, reaffirms One Girl’s enduring commitment to strengthening girls’ education in Sierra Leone and underscores its role as a vital partner in bridging gender gaps in access to learning. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/one-girl-scholarship-programme-supports-100-girls-to-stay-and-succeed-in-school/