Creating Lasting Change in Sierra Leone
Our Projects
Partnering With Local Communities
Project 3580: The Waterloo Schools Charity works hand in hand with local communities in Waterloo and Kissitown, Sierra Leone, to improve education, health, and opportunity for children and families. Every classroom restored, every clinic repaired, and every child supported is a step towards lasting change.
Our work is made possible through the generosity of benefactors, regular standing orders, and community fundraising. These donations have transformed lives – rebuilding classrooms, constructing new schools, training teachers, providing clean water, and supplying medical care and essential learning materials. Together, we’re helping Sierra Leone’s children build brighter, healthier futures.
Below you’ll find an overview of our completed, ongoing, and future projects, showing how your support continues to make a tangible difference across the communities we serve.
Completed Projects
Following the devastation of Sierra Leone’s civil war, our first priority was to rebuild and restore the schools and communities we serve. These projects laid the foundation for the thriving educational and health facilities that children rely on today.
— Restoration & Rebuilding
Burned-out classrooms were repaired, repainted, and furnished, and secure boundary walls were constructed to make schools safe and welcoming for students.
— Construction & Expansion
New nursery and primary school buildings were built in Waterloo, alongside a two-storey science, home economics, and computer block at Peninsula Secondary School, expanding learning opportunities for hundreds of students.
— Kissitown Schools
Three primary schools were built in Kissitown, providing hundreds of children with access to education for the first time. The classrooms, desks, learning materials, and safe play areas, create a welcoming environment where children can study, play, and grow.
— Clinic & Health Initiatives
The Kissitown clinic was repaired, expanded, and secured with a perimeter wall. Combined with the distribution of 4,000 mosquito nets, well repairs, and toilet installation, these efforts significantly improved community health.
— Equipment & Materials
IT equipment, educational software, school furniture, and uniforms were supplied, while solar power was installed in the Computer Block to support modern learning.
— Emergency Response
During the Ebola crisis, food subsidies, medical supplies, and financial assistance were provided to affected teachers, families, and orphans, helping communities survive and recover.
— Story of the Zoe Carss Nursery
Provision of a nursery school was of paramount importance to Laurie Read who wanted to prepare the little ones to be taught in English, before going on to Primary School where they are taught in English. There are 23 living languages in Sierra Leone because originally families (freed from slavery) spoke their own tongue or Krio, the local patois. Made possible by full funding from the Zoe Carss Education Trust, the Zoe Carss Nursery was successfully built.
Ongoing Projects
Uniforms & Family Support
Providing clothing, shoes, and food subsidies to primary school children and families in need, ensuring every child can attend school with confidence.
Teacher Development
Funding workshops, training, and computer lab access to support teachers’ professional growth and improve classroom learning.
University Bursaries
Supporting students through the Dr. Laurie Read Bursary Fund, enabling secondary and tertiary education across Sierra Leone.
Materials & Resources
Supplying books, stationery, desks, IT equipment, and toys for classrooms and nurseries, ensuring all children have the tools to learn and thrive.
School & Clinic Maintenance
Continuous refurbishment of buildings, classrooms, and the Kissitown clinic, providing safe, well-equipped spaces for learning and healthcare.
Health & Nutrition
Running term-time school feeding programmes and providing medicines, diagnostic tools, and mosquito nets to promote wellbeing and learning.
Future Projects
Looking ahead, our next major goal is to build a fourth primary school in Masiaka, featuring six classrooms and essential facilities. Construction is scheduled to begin in Autumn 2025, providing safe, modern learning spaces for hundreds of children.
This new school will reduce overcrowding in existing classrooms, improve access to quality education, and create opportunities for local teachers and staff to develop professionally. Alongside classrooms, the project will include play areas, toilets, clean water access, and learning resources to ensure a safe and engaging environment for students.
By supporting this project, donors can directly contribute to transforming education and health outcomes for children in Masiaka, helping to build a stronger, healthier community for the future.