From war recovery to health emergencies, children have survived unimaginable loss. Today, they are learning, leading, and healing — with the help of communities who believe in them.
Sierra Leone has faced civil war, Ebola, and natural disasters — each leaving children more vulnerable. While peace has returned, children still face severe poverty, violence, and underfunded services. These are the three most urgent challenges:
Sexual abuse, rape, and early pregnancy are common. Many survivors never report due to stigma or lack of trust in the justice system. Legal follow-through is rare, especially in rural areas.
Although public education is technically free, families still struggle with costs for uniforms, supplies, and meals. Many children — especially girls — drop out to support family survival.
Many children still carry invisible wounds from war and Ebola-era loss. Trauma, grief, and ongoing instability have led to high levels of anxiety, aggression, and emotional shutdown, often without access to care.
Despite these challenges, Uganda’s children remain full of hope — dreaming of education, health, and opportunities for a better tomorrow.
At iam4allkids.org, we center the children who’ve been through the unimaginable — and lift up the people helping them move forward with courage. In Sierra Leone, we support survivors, learners, and dreamers rebuilding from the inside out.
We:
Highlight shelters and safe spaces for girls escaping abuse or forced marriage
Support education programs and community-led trauma care
Share stories of healing, resilience, and rising leadership
In Sierra Leone, childhood is being rebuilt one safe step at a time.
Children in Sierra Leone face daily risks that many cannot see.
One in three girls experiences sexual violence before age 18
School dropout rates remain high, especially in rural areas and among girls
Most children affected by war or Ebola never receive emotional support or mental health care
We believe these children deserve more than survival — they deserve trust, care, and a future.
Even after deep pain, new stories are being written:
In safe homes, girls once silenced by fear are learning to speak and lead
In rural schools, boys who once worked in fields now write poetry under trees
In village circles, survivors of war and disease are healing through dance and prayer
And because of your support, Sierra Leone’s children are no longer hidden
Here, healing is not just recovery — it’s transformation.
Rainbo runs free centers across Sierra Leone for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Their team provides medical exams, trauma counseling, and court support to help children and women find justice and healing.
They also work with schools and parents to prevent abuse through education and community dialogue.
Rainbo doesn’t just treat wounds — it restores dignity.
Commit and Act trains teachers, counselors, and caregivers in trauma-informed care using culturally relevant methods. They support children who have lost parents, survived abuse, or lived through crisis with art therapy, play, and safe conversation.
They also advocate for mental health access across schools and rural clinics.
In places where pain once stayed silent, Commit and Act brings comfort and strength.
In 2023, Rainbo launched weekly Healing Circles in Bo, bringing together girls who had experienced abuse or neglect. Through journaling, group games, and storytelling, participants processed grief and built confidence.
Trained facilitators guided quiet conversations and encouraged each girl to reclaim her name and voice.
The circles turned isolation into sisterhood.
In 2024, Commit and Act held a two-week School Recovery Camp in a community heavily affected by the Ebola crisis. Children participated in music, group games, and memory-sharing exercises, followed by school readiness support.
Many had missed months or years of school. The camp helped them reconnect with learning — and with themselves.
The event reminded children that their futures are still theirs to shape.
Meet the organizations helping children reclaim trust, education, and belonging:
Offering medical care, counseling, and justice for survivors of gender-based violence.
Providing trauma healing, mental health education, and emotional resilience for children.
Supporting abandoned children and young survivors of trafficking with shelter and education.
Promoting education access for girls and rural youth through policy change and mentorship.
Running shelters and rehabilitation programs for street-connected and abused youth in Freetown.
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