On Friday, 31st July 2026, the Caritas Freetown Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Project team distributed educational materials and provided financial assistance for lunch expenses to child survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at St. Francis Secondary School, Newton, as part of its ongoing efforts to support vulnerable children and promote their continued access to education.
The beneficiaries were identified in collaboration with the ten Sierra Leone Police Family Support Units (FSUs) partnering with the project. Through case records and referrals provided by the FSUs, twenty child survivors of SGBV were selected to receive educational support.
Each beneficiary received essential school materials, including school bags, exercise books, pens, pencils, erasers, mathematical sets, and other learning materials. In addition, the children received a modest financial contribution to assist with lunch expenses, helping to reduce the financial burden on their parents and guardians while encouraging regular school attendance.
The intervention forms part of the project’s broader commitment to protecting and empowering child survivors of SGBV. Children who have experienced abuse often face significant barriers to education, including trauma, stigma, discrimination, and financial hardship, all of which increase their risk of dropping out of school. By providing educational materials alongside financial support for daily school expenses, the SGBV project aims to create a more supportive environment that enables these children to remain in school, continue their education, and rebuild their confidence.
Speaking during the distribution, project staff reaffirmed Caritas Freetown’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of vulnerable children through practical interventions that promote education, protection, and social inclusion.
The distribution underscores Caritas Freetown’s continued dedication to ensuring that no child is denied an education because of the consequences of abuse. Through strong collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Units and other stakeholders, the project continues to restore hope, strengthen child protection systems, and provide survivors with the support they need to pursue a brighter and more secure future.
