Who We Are

Transforming Education in Sierra Leone and Beyond

About EducAid

EducAid is a registered UK charity, primarily funded by individuals and charitable organisations in the UK, Europe and the United States. We were incorporated in 1995 as a Charitable Trust (1048012) and transferred into a Charitable Incorporated Entity (CIO) in 2016 (1163161), both registered under the name of EducAid Sierra Leone. Our UK team (3), who handles the majority of governance, fundraising and communications, works remotely. Our registered UK address is EducAid Sierra Leone, 93 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4BA.

EducAid Sierra Leone is also a registered non-profit in Sierra Leone. EducAid’s Head Office in Sierra Leone, where the Finance and Operations Teams are based, is at our Freetown site, Lumley.

Our Vision

Our vision is to create a democratic, dignified and globally-engaged Sierra Leone, where poverty is eliminated by educated citizens.

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What Makes EducAid Different?

EducAid has been transforming education in Sierra Leone for more than 30 years through long-term partnerships with communities and a commitment to practical, locally driven solutions.

Our work is locally led by Sierra Leonean staff who understand the context and challenges first-hand, focused on sustained relationships and lasting impact.

In our schools, we provide integrated support that combines academic learning with wellbeing, safeguarding, and life skills, and we have consistently demonstrated adaptability in crisis situations, continuing to deliver education through disruptions such as Ebola and COVID-19 by responding quickly to changing conditions.

Our Story

EducAid was founded in 1995 in response to the barriers preventing young people in Sierra Leone from accessing education, and over the past three decades it has grown from a small initiative into a network of schools and programmes supporting thousands of students each year.

Throughout this growth, EducAid has remained focused on ensuring that education is not only accessible, but relevant, resilient, and capable of supporting individuals to shape their own futures. The organisation has evolved alongside the needs of local communities, strengthening education through a range of projects driven by Sierra Leonean staff.

Today, EducAid runs a network of free schools and school improvement initiatives, works on gender equality and community resilience, and contributes to international research and global best practice in education.

EducAid Lumley

An Educaid Timeline

1993

James & Swithun visit Freetown

James Boardman and Swithun Mason visit Sierra Leone as part of a University College London trip.

1993

1994

Sponsorship Starts

James and Swithun organise family and friends to help them fund a sponsorship programme to support students in Sierra Leone.

1994

2000

EducAid Opens

Miriam moves to Freetown and opens EducAid Lumley on the back veranda of a rented house.

2000

2007

Women's Empowerment

EducAid began actively engaging with female students through our accelerated learning programme.

2007

2012

Teacher Training

Drawing on our teaching experience, we set up the QEP to provide training and development for teachers in Sierra Leone.

2012

2014

Ebola Outbreak

EducAid responded to Ebola in 3 key ways:

1. Safety of staff and residential students.

2. Remote learning of non-residential students.

3. Building orphan care centres and integrating orphans in to schools.

2014

2014

Post-Secondary Strategy

The Leadership Course and EducAid Alumni Network started in 2014

2014

2017

EducAid’s first Doctor graduates

Past EducAid student Augustine graduates as a qualified doctor.

2017

2018

Secondary education to be free in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone passes law that Secondary Education is to be free improving access for many students

2018

2019

The ban on pregnant students was lifted in Sierra Leone

This removed some access barriers for the many female students who wished to continue their education

2019

2019

2019 - Education Innovation Challenge (EIC)

EducAid participates in the Education Innovation Challenge (EIC) one of the biggest studies on learning outcomes ever in Sierra Leone

2019

2020

Covid-19 Pandemic

EducAid responded by: 

- Ensuring safety of staff, students and local communities

- Providing remote learning via radio which reached 1.4 million children in Sierra Leone

- Participating in wider research and contributing to best practices

2020

2020

EducAid’s Maronka showcased in World Education Week

Maronka was chosen as 1 of only 100 schools from around the world for this celebration of education and best practice

2020

2022

Miriam receives her PhD

Miriam our country Director finishes her PhD with several international publications on education



2022

2022

The Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge

EducAid is selected for The Sierra Leone Education Innovation Challenge (SLEIC) working to increase literacy and numeracy outcomes over three years for 134,000 children



2022

Our Team

EducAid’s work is delivered by a dedicated team of educators, programme staff, and support personnel based in Sierra Leone, alongside a small international team supporting governance, partnerships and communications.

Please feel free to contact us via hello@educaid.org.uk with any questions and our team will put you in touch with the relevant contact.

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Our Partners