Your love in action: Reaching girls in Sierra Leone through education

Girls in Sierra Leone are thriving — because they are getting an education. Around the world, 122 million girls are shut out of school, trapped in a cycle of lifelong poverty. Your compassion is breaking that cycle. Educating a girl changes everything. She earns more, faces fewer risks in childbirth, and strengthens her whole community for generations. With support from faithful hearts like yours, Lutheran World Relief launched a program to keep girls in school. Working with local government and school officials, we use innovative tools to track attendance and identify girls at risk — then surround them with what they need to thrive: cash transfers for families, nutritious school meals, essential supplies, and support for teachers and mentors. Now in our second year, we've expanded to a fifth district, reaching more than 2,100 girls across 78 schools — more than double our first year. Together, we've provided nearly 14,000 cash transfers. This enables families to not only get their daughters in school, but to keep them there, by covering essentials like food, uniforms and transportation. Attendance is soaring. In addition to paying for school, families are using this stability to launch small businesses, enroll younger siblings, and ensure sustainable access to nourishing food. Data and statistics are critical in measuring outcomes. But the profound impact is best told through stories of the people you’ve helped. Like Aminata Kamara and her daughter Kadiatu. Aminata faced unfathomable trauma, including sexual violence and abuse. Forced to marry her abuser, she left school at just 12, giving birth to Kadiatu that same year. Her one hope was a brighter future for her daughter. Now, thanks to monthly cash transfers, Kadiatu — 12 herself — is thriving in the classroom. And Aminata sits right beside her, finally receiving the education she was unjustly denied. Because of you, we now have even bigger goals, including extending into secondar schools in Sierra Leone and as well as reaching vulnerable boys such as those with disabilities. We also hope to expand in other regions, including areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo where child labor is especially prevalent, and Nigeria, where we have worked for many years. So many more girls are waiting for their chance. Join the movement of faithful supporters helping neighbors like Aminata and Kadiatu. Share your love today at lwr.org/inschool. Until your love reaches every neighbor. More information about Lutheran World Relief’s work in Sierra Leone: Give today: www.lwr.org/inschool Video:    • Young mother and daughter beat the odds to...   Video:    • What is a cash transfer and why do they help?   Video:    • You can change a girl’s life in Sierra Leo...   Video:    • School attendance is low among girls in Si...   Blog: Update: Here’s how YOU helped hundreds of girls stay in school Blog: Girls in Sierra Leone are in crisis. Here’s why. Follow Lutheran World Relief on Facebook: facebook.com/LuthWorldRelief Follow Lutheran World Relief on Instagram: instagram.com/luthworldrelief Learn more about Lutheran World Relief: lwr.org Subscribe to the Lutheran World Relief email list: https://lwr.org/sign-our-emails Give where needed most: https://lwr.org/give