Street Child Disburses NLe 6.5 Million to 3,606 Caregivers Nationwide
By Ivan J. Leigh
The humanitarian organisation Street Child has disbursed more than NLe 6.5 million in grants to 3,606 caregivers across Sierra Leone, with over 80 percent of beneficiaries identified as women, officials confirmed.
The funds were distributed across 10 districts—Kenema, Kailahun, Port Loko, Kambia, Western Area Urban, Western Area Rural, Tonkolili, Koinadugu, Falaba, and Bombali—as part of efforts to support vulnerable households and improve access to education for children.
Country Director Kafala Kargbo said the initiative is rooted in the organisation’s long-standing mission to address the underlying causes of children living on the streets, particularly poverty and limited access to schooling.
Founded in 2008 in Makeni, Street Child initially focused on removing children from street life and reintegrating them into education. However, Kargbo noted that the scale of the challenge required broader interventions targeting families and caregivers.
He disclosed that the organisation has provided more than 61,000 grants nationwide since its inception and has expanded operations to about 24 countries globally. He also urged beneficiaries to adopt a savings culture, revealing that contributions saved over a 10-week period would be matched by the organisation.
Deputy Director at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Daniel Albert Gbow, commended the initiative, describing it as complementary to government programmes aimed at protecting women and children.
He referenced key legislation, including the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act and the Child Rights Act, noting that such interventions help advance national efforts to safeguard child welfare and promote education.
Beneficiaries welcomed the support, with one recipient urging fellow caregivers to use the funds strictly for educational purposes rather than diverting them to other financial obligations.
The latest disbursement underscores ongoing collaboration between non-governmental organisations and the government to address poverty-related barriers to education in Sierra Leone.
