ActionAid Sierra Leone Supports New School Facility for Over 1,300 Learners in Freetown
Sahid Bangura ActionAid Sierra Leone has supported the construction of a new school structure at the National Islamic Mission School in Up Town Bar, East End of Freetown, providing additional learning space for more than 1,300 pupils and students.
The organisation disclosed the development on Friday, October 2, 2026, following the handover of the community-funded facility, which comprises three classrooms, toilet facilities and a computer room.
According to ActionAid Sierra Leone, the project was driven by women belonging to a community Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), who mobilised their own resources, engaged a contractor and prepared a Bill of Quantities for the construction.
ActionAid complemented the community’s contribution by providing selected construction materials and covering contractor fees, working in partnership with Women in Crisis.
The new facility is expected to provide additional space for the school, which currently serves 758 primary pupils and 615 secondary students.
During the handover ceremony, ActionAid Sierra Leone’s Head of Programme and Policy emphasised that improving the quality of education requires more than physical infrastructure.
The official highlighted the importance of trained teachers, adequate learning materials and sustained support to ensure that learners benefit fully from the new facility.
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, school authorities and community members pledged to take ownership of the facility and ensure that it is properly maintained and protected for future generations.
ActionAid Sierra Leone said the project demonstrates how community-led initiatives can contribute to sustainable development when local people are empowered to identify needs, mobilise resources and participate directly in delivering solutions.
