The Center for Empowerment, Education, Peace and Agriculture for Rural Development (CEEPARD) Sierra Leone, in collaboration with its partners, has concluded 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.

The 2026 programme ended on Tuesday, September 22, with a donation and distribution ceremony at the Bassa Town Field in Waterloo, bringing together children, parents, teachers, partners and community stakeholders.

Implemented under the theme, “The 17/7 Principle: An Assurance to Achieve All Round Academic Excellence Through Societal Synergies,” the initiative provided free intensive summer classes and educational materials to children from vulnerable backgrounds.

According to CEEPARD Sierra Leone, beneficiaries received school bags, books, pens, pencils and geometry sets, while selected children who walk long distances to school were provided with bicycles to ease their movement to and from school.

The programme was implemented 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.

Speaking during the distribution ceremony, CEEPARD Sierra Leone Deputy Executive Director, Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray, said the initiative was designed to support less-privileged children and help address some of the challenges preventing them from attending or remaining in school.

He disclosed that CEEPARD supported 1,500 pupils during the 2025 edition of the programme but increased the number of beneficiaries to 2,500 in 2026, reflecting the organisation’s efforts to reach more vulnerable children in Waterloo and surrounding communities.

“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,” Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray said.

He explained that CEEPARD considers the programme part of its contribution towards expanding access to education and complementing national efforts to improve educational opportunities for children, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.

Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray urged parents and guardians to ensure that the educational materials provided are properly used for their intended purposes. He also appealed to organisations, individual donors and development partners to continue supporting the initiative, noting that additional resources would enable CEEPARD to reach more beneficiaries.

Executive Director of CEEPARD Sierra Leone, Hamid Ibrahim Sesay, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting children and vulnerable communities facing difficulties in accessing educational opportunities and essential learning materials.

He said the completion of the 2026 programme should not be viewed as the end of the organisation’s intervention but as another important step towards expanding its educational support.

“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,” Hamid Ibrahim Sesay stated.

According to him, the 2,500 children reached through this year’s programme represent a shared commitment among CEEPARD Sierra Leone, its partners and community stakeholders to invest in education and improve opportunities for vulnerable children.

Hamid Ibrahim Sesay expressed appreciation to donors, development partners and other stakeholders for their continued support, saying their contributions remain important to the organisation’s efforts to invest in children and strengthen communities.

He also commended CEEPARD Sierra Leone’s volunteers, interns and ambassadors for their role in implementing the programme, describing their commitment and service as critical to its success.

“You are the bedrocks of CEEPARD Sierra Leone,” he said, while thanking the volunteers, interns and ambassadors who participated throughout the summer school programme.

Hamid Ibrahim Sesay further acknowledged the support of COFA, Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray, Hon. Ahmed Joseph Kanu, Madam Tarneh Kumba Koroma, Abdulai Amadu Bangura, Mr. and Mrs. Sinneh Bangura and the Managements of the participating schools.

Special recognition was also given to Madam Hellen Galband of COFA International, who travelled from the United States and was acknowledged for her continued support and encouragement of CEEPARD Sierra Leone’s activities in Waterloo.

The Executive Director additionally recognized Abdul Karim Kamara, popularly known as Stylish, Abdul Hassan Kamara and members of the team from Lunsar for their contributions towards the implementation of the programme.

With the number of beneficiaries increasing from 1,500 in 2025 to 2,500 in 2026, CEEPARD Sierra Leone said it intends to further expand the Summer School Livelihood Support Programme in subsequent years, depending on the availability of resources and continued support from partners and donors. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65004