SIERRA LEONE

Dreamtown´s work in Sierra Leone takes place across the capital Freetown and two other cities, Makeni and Koidu. Across these cities, we work in 10 different communities to support young people´s initiatives to transform community spaces, have young people involved in decision making, and improve the safety of young women. Our work in Sierra Leone builds on strong collaborations with the two organisations Youth Dream Centre Sierra Leone and YMCA Sierra Leone. Below are some examples of our activities in Sierra Leone.

Spaces for learning through non-formal education: In 2022, Dreamtown together with Youth Dream Centre Sierra Leone supported a total of 408 children and youth through non-formal education; learning how to read and write and calculate, and through skills training; learning how to cook, sow, do beadwork, develop a business, use and fix a computer. All skills that support young people on their journey towards a better education, life and more sustainable income opportunities. In 2022, we were lucky to have our education programme supported by Erik Thunes Legat to invest in the education of some of the kids and youth who need it the most. We look forward to scaling up our collaboration around conducive learning spaces in 2023!

As part of this work, we try to bring the opportunities for learning as close to people as possible – for example by mobilising classes in community centres and community schools. To break down as many barriers as possible for children and young people to access quality education.

Claim your city – exploring methods: In the beginning of 2022, Dreamtown was in Sierra Leone with Youth Dream Centre to visit the community Bonga Town. The mission was to guide young people through a collaborative design process for urban space interventions, and to them a voice in shaping their own community - something they rarely get. Together with 20 young, visionary, and hopeful men and women from Bonga Town, we walked, talked, mapped, observed, drawn, designed, and tried to get a grasp of the vibrant, buzzing community. In the end, the youth decided together on community initiatives to act on, including repairing a dysfunctional water tap, connect it to the community’s water system, and set up community cleaning activities.

When Isata moved to Freetown, she did so with high hopes for a better life and a good education. But soon, her dreams appeared to be further away than before. One of her friends told her about Youth Dream Centre – a non-formal education centre that Dreamtown has been working with for more than 10 years. Here, Isata joined the cooking class – and now dreams of making her own little business.

You can learn more and see our new journal on Bonga Town right here:

Spotlight

The Coolest School In Town A Space For Young Dreams

Youth Dream Centre Sierra Leone (YDC-SL) is one of Dreamtown´s first ever partners. Dreamtown and YDC-SL basically grew up together, we have now been collaborating on supporting education and safe learning spaces in Sierra Leone for more than 10 years. YDC-SL runs a different school - a non-formal school. Here, they make their own rules - so no one is left out.

YDC-SL has an education centre in the three cities Freetown, Makeni, and Kono. In their non-formal education classes, YDC-SL follows an official curriculum – but with the flexibility of adapting it to the individual students. Some have never been to school, some have dropped out of school - and some might attend formal school but don’t have the needed support and help around them to make it through. Everyone is welcome at YDC-SL.

With their focus on education, YDC-SL is trying to help solve the challenge that not everyone is able to attend school in Sierra Leone - or has the support system around them to keep them in school, help them with homework, and pay for fees and materials. At YDCSL’s schools, everything is free. On paper, so is going to formal school. But in practise, students are still having to pay different fees, and cover costs of materials, transportation, extra classes to pass their exams, etc. And this situation still leaves many children and youth with little opportunity to continue their education.

Want to know more?

Check out our film “The Seed of Possibility” and discover the inspiring journey of Isata and the power of non-formal-education - overcoming obstacles to move closer to her dreams.