2026

Total Donated in 2026: $250

$250 - Sierra Leon | Community Vocational and Resource Center

Project Background:

The vision was to establish a Community Vocational and Resource Center that would provide vulnerable youth and marginalized adults with practical, marketable skills that could lead to employment and income generation. Through extensive community consultations, residents identified skills that were the most in-demand of which shaped the programs offered at the school.

In April 2026, we officially opened the center with a community-wide inauguration ceremony attended by a diverse group of stakeholders. From the American side, attendees included Peace Corps staff, the Country Director, Director of Management and Operations, Program Managers, fellow volunteers, and a representative from the U.S. Embassy. Local stakeholders included the Paramount Chief, seven Section Chiefs, numerous Town Chiefs, elders, and community members from across the region. The event featured speeches from key partners followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially launch the center.

This project required significant coordination across every stage of development, from vision and design to implementation, operations, and sustainability planning. I am proud to share that the center is now fully operational. The total project investment was approximately $15,000 USD (roughly 300 million Leones). 

The training model was designed around weekend instruction, with classes held over two months each academic term to maximize accessibility for working adults and students. This month, we will celebrate our first graduating cohort of nearly 40 students, enrolled across programs including ICT, Tailoring, and Hair Dressing. Over the course of the first year, we are hoping to surpass a few hundred graduating students.