Isata M Kamara is the founder of GEDSA.
Gender Equality and Development for Social Action (GEDSA)
Background
Gender Equality and Development for Social Action (GEDSA) was born from the experience and passion of the lead founder during her childhood and teenage years. Gender discrimination and cultural practices have forced many girls out of school and made their dreams of a better life collapse along the way. The organisation is registered with the Bombali District Council and the Ministry of Social Welfare in Sierra Leone.
In Africa, Sierra Leone in particular is a society that still sees the position of women to be just housewives and cooks for their husbands. Sierra Leone is rated among one of the poorest countries in the world, the country has a population of over seven million according to the 2021 National Census (Male 3,716,263, Female 3,825,378, Total 7,541,641¹) and the priority according to culture is to prioritise boys’ education over girls. This is reflective of the education rates in the country as only 47% of the population was educated between the period 2004-2022. (2)
Impact of The Steve Sinnott Foundation in supporting education
Since the establishment of the partnership between The Steve Sinnott Foundation, the Sierra Leone Teachers Union, and Gender Equality and Development for Social Action, many interventions have been taken in the Bombali District in Northern Sierra Leone, Porto Loko District in the North-Western Region and Bo District in the Southern Region of Sierra Leone. These range from the training of school leaders on gender based violence, supporting school girls in the making of reusable sanitary pads, engaging teenagers on election violence, continuous engagement with schools to ensure girls have the space to speak up and report any form of violence (physical, sexual or psychological) through established structures like school mentors and guardian counsellors.
Funding support from The Steve Sinnott Foundation UK has seen girls making their own reusable sanitary pads, which has helped many girls come to school during their menstrual periods as they could not always afford to buy them, and become confident in speaking up.
GEDSA continues to make inroads in engaging stakeholders through radio discussions and community meetings in making sure children, especially girls and children with disabilities, are provided with support and care. The provision of learning materials including bags, books, pens, pencils, mathematical sets, sharpeners were provided for 100 children. The first phase targeted 50 beneficiaries and offered training for school leaders and parents to provide them with the skills and techniques to support them.
Governments are charged with the responsibility to ensure all economic, social and political aspects of a country are fully provided, but the status of Sierra Leone makes this impossible. So the need for partnerships and support from like minded organisations is essential for the achievement of SDG4.
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is fundamental in supporting GEDSA towards the achievement of this goal. Over this period of supporting GEDSA, over 2000 girls and boys in 15 schools have been taught about hygiene, drugs and violence, the importance of education and much more. 60 school leaders and over 100 parents have been reached with educational messages through support from the Steve Sinnott Foundation over a four year period. The aim is to continuously engage schools as an ongoing process each school year.
References:
- https://www.statistics.sl/images/StatisticsSL/Documents/Census/MTPHC_Provisional_Results/2021_MTPHC_Provisional_Results.pdf
- https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/SLE/sierra-leone/literacy-rate
This article first appeared in Engage 27.
BY ISATA M KAMARA • March 18, 2024
On 23rd January at the Cima Community School of Hope (ECEC), the first workshop was held with the first group of students as part of the STEM program. This activity marks a promising start to the program's implementation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is crucial for children because it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity from a young age. It nurtures natural curiosity, helps children understand the modern world, and builds resilience through hands-on experimentation. Additionally, early STEM exposure prepares them for future academic and career success. A total of 20 students participated in this first session. The session focused on a general presentation of the importance of computer programming in today's world. The students were also introduced to the Scratch software interface, an educational tool well-suited for teaching children programming. This initial experience went smoothly and generated considerable interest and strong motivation among the students.
At the Steve Sinnott Foundation, we know that planning for the future is one of the most important things you can do for the people and causes you care about. That’s why we’re delighted to offer our staff and volunteers the opportunity to write or update their will this Spring. Whether you’ve been meaning to get started for years, or you simply need to make a few updates, this is the perfect time to take that important step. Join Our Free Will Writing Webinar To help you get started, we’ve partnered with expert estate planners Octopus Legacy , who will be hosting a free webinar(s) covering everything you need to know about writing or updating your will. Staff & Volunteers 12pm, Thursday 5th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters 12pm, Tuesday 10th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration During the session, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to have an up-to-date will What to consider when writing or updating your will The different types of will-writing services available How Lasting Powers of Attorney work and why they matter How to claim your free will this Spring This webinar is designed to make what can feel like a complex process simple, clear and manageable. Why Having a Will Matters Having an up-to-date will ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed and that may not reflect what you would have wanted. A will gives you peace of mind. It allows you to: Provide clarity and security for your family Appoint guardians for children if needed Make specific gifts to individuals or causes Ensure your estate is handled efficiently Updating your will is just as important as writing one. Life changes marriages, children, property purchases, or changes in circumstances can all affect your wishes. Claim Your Free Will This Spring As part of this initiative, eligible staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to claim a free will-writing service. Full details will be shared during the webinar, including how to access this benefit. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Writing or updating your will is one of the most responsible and caring decisions you can make for yourself and for those you care about. Register Now Spaces are available now, simply register using the link below: Staff & Volunteers - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration We hope you’ll join us on Thursday 5th March and take this positive step towards securing your future.
In my time as an assistant at The Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF), one of my research tasks was looking into how the Foundation contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I really believe in the work of the Foundation and I have also been raising funds as I believe that every child must have the right to education. SSF is a UK-based educational charity focused on promoting quality education worldwide. It plays a supportive role in achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4: (Quality Education), but its work contributes to several others as well. Here's how the Foundation supports the SDGs: Goal 4 – Quality education (core focus) The Foundation's main mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It supports teachers and educational initiatives in developing countries. It runs programmes like: The Education for All Campaign – advocating for universal access to education. Teacher empowerment projects – providing training and resources to educators in under-resourced countries. Girls' education programmes – encouraging and supporting girls to stay in school and complete their education. Goal 3 – Good health and well-being Through education, particularly health-related programmes, the Foundation contributes to raising awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. The Foundation has developed a range of webinars to promote health and wellbeing and these can be found on YouTube. Goal 5 – Gender equality The Foundation promotes girls' education, directly addressing barriers that prevent girls from accessing and completing school. It advocates for the rights of women and girls, especially in patriarchal or disadvantaged societies. Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth By improving access to education and vocational training, the Foundation helps create employment opportunities. Educated individuals have better chances of securing decent work. Goal 10 – Reduced inequalities It supports marginalised groups, including children in rural or conflict-affected areas, contributing to reducing global inequalities in education. Goal 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Promotes education as a force for peace and conflict resolution. Supports democratic participation and awareness through educational programmes that foster community engagement. Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals Collaborates with NGOs, unions, schools, and governments to deliver and advocate for education projects. Builds international partnerships to achieve the SDGs through education. Summary While The Steve Sinnott Foundation's primary focus is on Goal 4, it contributes to many of the SDGs by empowering communities through education, particularly: Gender equality (Goal 5), Health (Goal 3), Economic growth (Goal 8), Reducing inequality (Goal 10), Peace (Goal 16), and Partnerships (Goal 17). The Foundation’s programmes also contribute to the achievement of other SDGs through the power of the provision of education and life-long learning; 1. No Poverty, 2. Zero Hunger, 13. Climate Action. We believe that all of the 17 SDGs are only achievable by ensuring that all children, wherever they are born, deserve the human right of quality education. Over 250 million children are still out of school and the global out-of-school population has reduced by only 1% in nearly ten years, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024. There is still much work to do in achieving equitable and quality Education for All.
