The 11-year long Sierra Leone Civil War resulted in the destruction of 1,270 primary schools. In 2001, 67% of all school-aged children were out of school.

In 2006, Muddy Lotus School was ranked at the very bottom of the 600 schools listed in the area of Kono based on the National Aptitude Test required by the Ministry of Education. Today, Muddy Lotus is ranked number 5.

From our partners at Shine on Sierra Leone:

“When we first visited Muddy Lotus in 2006, the school was a dilapidated and roofless building that housed 416 students. Torrential rains were pouring into the classrooms, there were not enough seats for all the students, and some of them hadn’t eaten in over two days. Yet these children were fully engaged in their teacher’s lessons, their hands outstretched in eager anticipation of being called upon. Their desire to learn and their positive energy was overwhelming and inspiring.

 

The 11-year long Sierra Leone Civil War resulted in the destruction of 1,270 primary schools and in 2001, 67% of all school-aged children were out of school.

 

Currently one out of three school-aged children are out of school. Education in Sierra Leone is legally required for all children starting at six-years-old at the elementary level and three years in secondary school but a sheer shortage of schools, teachers, and poverty has made it extremely difficult for the government to assure the following and development of this National Education program.

 

In 2006, Muddy Lotus School used to be ranked at the very bottom of the 600 schools listed in the area of Kono based on the National Aptitude Test required by the Ministry of Education. Today, we are proud to announce that Muddy Lotus has ranked number 5. In the last National Aptitude Test, in June 2010. The tremendous progress in the results of our educational program at Muddy Lotus was allowed with the help of our great supporters and our wonderful team of teachers.”

From our partners at Shine on Sierra Leone:

In June 2009, Clarity Project’s generous contribution allowed Shine on Sierra Leone to pay the one-month salary of three of our seven teachers at the Muddy Lotus School, in the diamond-mining region of Kono in Sierra Leone.

 

$100 a month allows for the education of 70+ children under the supervision of one teacher.

 

When allowing us to pay the salary of three teachers, you contributed to the empowerment of 210+ students who will become independent educated individuals.

 

Thank to our wonderful supporters and Clarity Project, Shine on Sierra Leone has been able to remodel the Muddy Lotus School and provide the teaching team with a descent educative environment.

From our partners at Shine on Sierra Leone:

“Since 2006, Shine on Sierra Leone transformed the Muddy Lotus School from a roofless three classroom building into a functioning and safe school. It took 10 days, 150 wooden boards, 50 bags of cement, 6 trips of sand, 6 trips of marble, 25 bundles of zinc, 5 iron doors, 16 workmen and a willingness to work from dawn to dusk. Muddy Lotus now boasts a brand new roof, cement flooring, repaired toilets, permanent desks, and new iron doors.

 

Muddy Lotus is the first sustainable schoolhouse built in Sierra Leone, using the innovative earth- bag method created by architect Nader Khalili. Inspired by the Muddy Lotus transformation, the government and UNICEF are now looking to use the earth-bag method to build all schools in Sierra Leone. For the past four years, SOSL has fully funded and supported the Muddy Lotus School. Today the school welcomes 416 students, 6 teachers, and 1 headmaster. The schools house presents now 8 classrooms and a recreation center.

 

Together with our team of devoted teachers in Kono, we are implementing a development model for Muddy Lotus to become self-sustainable and soon only rely on the tireless efforts of the local community. We are planning for Muddy Lotus to be fully self-sustainable by 2015. With the advice of experts in self-sustainability models for NGOs and the government of Sierra Leone, we are developing craftsmanship and agriculture programs run by the local community that aim to use part of the profits to fund the education of the new generations.”

Come back soon to learn more about Shine on Sierra Leone’s Adult Literacy efforts.