Sierra Leone Ireland Partnership
Éire I gComhar le Sierra Leone

Fundraising Dinner in support of keeping girls in school in Sierra Leone

Date: Saturday, 11th October 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Dublin Airport
Dress Code: Formal / Smart Casual

Tickets are available via Eventbrite:
https://Slipfundraisingdinner2025.eventbrite.ie

General Admission: €110 through eventbrite (€100 if you pay directly (through stripe on the slip website: https://slip.ie/membership/ or direct payment transfer to Sierra Leone Ireland Partnership, Bank of Ireland, Dunshaughlin, BIC: BOFIIE2DXXX, IBAN: IE11BOFI90343764322068. You must include your name & email to info@slip.ie to confirm for an e-ticket to the event.

VIP Admission: €160 - Patron Supporter: By Donation

By purchasing a ticket, you are doing more than reserving your seat at a memorable evening. You will enjoy a delicious three-course meal, live entertainment, and guest speakers—while making a direct impact on the education and future of young girls in Sierra Leone.

Background

The journey of girls through secondary education in Sierra Leone is often interrupted by numerous social and economic challenges. Despite efforts by the government and development partners, girls continue to face barriers such as early marriage, teenage pregnancy, extreme poverty, and lack of access to learning resources and safe school environments. According to UNESCO, the secondary school completion rate for girls remains significantly lower than for boys, especially in rural and underprivileged areas (Sierra Leone Education Strategic Plan 2015-2020). These barriers are further exacerbated by social norms that deprioritize girls’ education and limited system of support within schools and communities.

Problem Statement

The education of girls in Sierra Leone is disproportionately affected by: Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy, Poverty, Limited School Resources, Lack of a structured Mentorship programme, Safe Learning Spaces, hygiene and wellbeing. This hinders the retention of Girls through secondary education.

Project Goal

To pilot a sustainable community-based model that seeks retain vulnerable girls in secondary education through an integrated advocacy, support and empowerment programmes.

Objectives:

• Support 100 vulnerable girls in three secondary schools to complete their secondary education.
• Establish mentorship programs: linking girls with trained female mentors.
• Strengthen community and parental engagement in challenging harmful norms and practices.
• Provide essential school supplies, hygiene, wellbeing and psychosocial support.
• Community Sensitization & Advocacy Workshops to minimize traditional attitudes toward child marriage and education.
• Engage girls in Participatory research to elevate their voices and to inform evidence-based advocacy and policy engagement.
• Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) to track retention, academic progress, and social wellbeing.

Target Group: One hundred (100) Girls aged 12–18 at risk of dropping out of secondary education, across three secondary schools in Sierra Leone.

Budget: Estimated budget Cost: €25,000.(Covers school-related expenses, mentorship, hygiene and wellbeing, workshops, research and evaluation)

Expected Outcomes:

• Increase school attendance and retention among targeted girls.
• Enhance self-confidence, practical intelligence and academic performance.
• Strengthen community support for girls’ education.
• Policy recommendations generated through participatory research.

Sustainability and Scalability:

project leverages existing school and community structures, and will train local mentors and community leaders to ensure long-term ownership. Findings from the pilot will be used to advocate for government and donor support to scale the model nationwide.

Implementation Timeline: Eighteen Months (Pilot phase)

Lead Implementing Partner Sierra Leone Ireland Partnership (SLIP)

Contact Information Email info@slip.ie

Sierra Leone Ireland Partnership (SLIP)
C/O St. Mary’s College Community
Rathmines
Dublin 6
CHY: 13975

https://slip.ie/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558602190496