A Brief History of ChildFund in Sierra Leone
ChildFund’s work in Sierra Leone began on June 1, 1985, with its earliest programs focused primarily on primary education and school infrastructure. These initial interventions laid the foundation for long-term engagement, soon expanding to include health services, youth development initiatives, food security programs, and income-generating projects, the latter accompanied by small loans to support budding entrepreneurs and small business ventures.
In 1991, Sierra Leone was plunged into a decade-long civil conflict that brought unprecedented humanitarian challenges. ChildFund chose to remain in the country, shifting its focus toward emergency assistance and expanding its reach to deliver child protection and community-based psychosocial support. This period saw the organization working across borders, providing psycho-social services in refugee camps in Guinea and establishing child-friendly spaces in Kambia District and beyond.
Throughout the war years, ChildFund concentrated on welfare services and input supply for children in safe spaces, while also spearheading reintegration programs in partnership with the National Commission for Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (NCDDR). These efforts included skills training and employment creation for ex-combatants and youth, as well as specialized support for sexually abused girls and other vulnerable groups.
Following the end of the war, ChildFund maintained its commitment to recovery and resilience building. In the years that followed, the organization played a critical role in national emergency responses, including the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, the 2017 Freetown mudslide, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In each of these crises, ChildFund combined immediate relief with long-term recovery strategies, staying true to its mission of protecting and uplifting children, families, and communities across Sierra Leone.
Who We Are
Child Focused
We exist for children – and their voices and experiences guide everything we do. Each year, we reach millions of children and family members contending with poverty through programs that support them to create the conditions children need to thrive
Community Centered
As a community development organization, we work hand in hand with communities to diminish the impact of poverty on children. Because we believe that lasting change comes from within, we support communities to take the lead in identifying their needs and shaping the solutions that work best for them.
Locally-Led
We work with 3 local partner organizations to implement various child-focused programs in 4 districts. These partners bring invaluable insights and connections, enabling us to tailor our programs to the specific needs of each community.
People First
We believe that people are people, no matter their circumstances or experiences, and that their value is intrinsic and immeasurable. We strive to honor the dignity of every child in our programs and every human being we meet, no matter what.
Accelerating progress for children
Our ambition for 2026 is to contribute to the improved health, education, skills and safety of 2.5+ million children and youth annually by implementing quality, cost-effective, and impactful programs.
Our strategic objectives aim to:
- 01. Ensure infants and young children aged 0 to 5 years in marginalized and resource-poor households and communities are healthy and secure.
- 02. Improve learning outcomes and protection of children aged 6 to 14 years.
- 03. Improve and sustain the socio-economic development of adolescents and young adults.
- 04. Strengthen formal and informal child protection systems and advocacy.
- 05. Increase the resilience of vulnerable households, children and youth to the negative effects of disasters and environmental sustainability.
Our work contributes toward 12 of the 17 SDGs:
Discover More About Us
A world where every child realizes their rights and achieves their potential.
- HELP deprived, excluded and vulnerable children have the capacity to improve their lives and the opportunity to become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change in their communities.
- PROMOTE societies whose individuals and institutions participate in valuing, protecting and advancing the worth and rights of children.
- ENRICH supporters’ lives through their support of our cause.
