Project Dream's New School Build 2017
Project Dream's biggest target for 2017 was to raise money to be able to fully fund a new school to be built in the village of Bradford in Sierra Leone.
The Bradford school class in front of the old school building.
In the United Kingdom, we take the benefits and joy of pre school education for granted. However in the Bradford community too many children start school without the concept of any form of education and without the confidence they need to do well. This is the reason why Project Dream raised the funds to build a pre school and recruit staff who will be trained to improve early learning opportunities. The school will be free to attend, taking away the burden of paying from the parent who barely make ends meet. This also stop the metaphoric lottery draw in choosing which child to send to school, which in most cases the girl always looses.
The old school structure.
In the Bradford community girls face many barriers going to school. If families are going through a financial rough patch, they're more likely to pay school fees for boys to attend school rather than for girls. If a girl has to drop out of school, the family is eager to marry them off rather than have them sit around the house all day. Also many girls miss class because they can't afford sanitary towels.
The new school structure in its building stages.
To try to solve the problem of girls missing school due to being unable to afford sanitary towel, Project Dream has begun to distribute eco-friendly reusable washable sanitary pads and pants. They come as part of a kit including pants with clips so that they stay in place and a waterproof bag, in case girls need to change them in school. They are biodegradable, cost effective and durable, lasting for five years. Project Dream hopes this will encourage less waste going into landfill.
Despite the current situation in Sierra Leone, Project Dream is optimistic about the future. We believe there is so much we can do for children who are victims of gender-based violence, and all of the other social evils and challenges that are out there. It will be tough, but we have hope.
The New School in Bradford, Sierra Leone which officially opened in March 2018
