By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu | Bo City
The Commit and Act Foundation Sierra Leone has provided vital educational support to 576 survivors of abuse across Bo, Bombali, and Tonkolili districts. The distribution, held over the weekend, aims to enhance the beneficiaries’ chances of reintegration and retention in school, while restoring their dignity and confidence within society.
According to Madam Hannah Kietel Vonjoe, Founder and Country Director of the organization, the initiative aligns with Commit and Act’s mission to empower survivors through education and psychosocial support. She emphasized that this intervention complements the government’s Free Quality Education (FQE) programme by alleviating the financial burden many families face at the start of the academic year.
“We are implementing the Kinder Missionswerk and One Day, Someone Will Change the World projects to cushion the burdens associated with schooling,” Madam Vonjoe explained. “This support is about giving survivors the tools to succeed academically, emotionally, and socially and ensuring that their reintegration into society is not just possible, but sustainable.”
The education support packages included School bags, exercise books, pens and pencils, sharpeners and financial assistance for schooling costs
Beneficiaries of the distribution were primarily survivors of abuse who had passed through the organization’s shelters in the three districts.
Since its establishment in 2010, the Commit and Act Foundation has been providing medical, legal, and livelihood support to women and girls affected by Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Its shelter in Bo serves as a regional referral hub for survivors in the South-East.
Madam Vonjoe also revealed that the organization recently secured a new office in Freetown to strengthen collaboration with national stakeholders, attract additional donor support and expand efforts in the national campaign against SGBV.
Despite these efforts, she acknowledged persistent challenges, including limited mobility for outreach, financial constraints and inadequate medical resources.
Several government representatives attended the distribution ceremony and commended the foundation’s work, including Michael James, Regional Director South, Ministry of Social Welfare, Frederick Lansana, Assistant Director of Education, MBSSE, Yusuf B. Daramy, Protection Officer, Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (South), Alpha Dicey Koroma, Head of Investigations (South), Family Support Unit
In their remarks, the officials described Commit and Act as a trusted partner in the national fight against SGBV. They reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration and issued strong warnings to parents and caregivers against compromising abuse cases, stressing that the Child Rights Act of 2019 provides strict penalties for offenders.
One of the survivors, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, *expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation for its support during their most difficult times.
“I want to thank Commit and Act for standing by us when we felt abandoned. These materials will help us return to school with dignity,” she said. She encouraged her peers to use the support wisely, stay focused on their education, and strive for excellence to inspire continued donor support.