About Us
SHARP Sierra Leone is a four pronged charity, including education, disaster relief, agriculture support, and safe housing. Each of the four prongs had a distinct beginning.
In 2008 while living in the impoverished community himself, Ibrahim noticed the children were not in school. He built a makeshift shelter, and began dedicating his time to teaching children. He was joined by other volunteers, and Empowering Children School began. Today this school in Freetown is located out of the flood zone and enrolls over 200 children annually.
The mission of SHARP is to eliminate poverty and socio-economic barriers to well-being caused by climate vulnerability in Sierra Leone.
Initially the goal was to provide items that would help survivors, who were wet and cold, with their desperate need to get dry after everything they owned had been taken from them by the flood.
Flooding happens every year, and it will happen again. The National Environmental Protection Agency has given notice to families living in the creeks and slums of Freetown; the water level will rise in the future, and everyone living in those disaster prone areas should be evacuated. This notice is heard every day on TV and radio.
As climate change continues to impact Africa, experts predict bigger and more disastrous flooding in the future. Living in the flood prone areas is dangerous and causes anxiety; every time it floods, lives and property are lost. And so SHARP was started.
“Our vision is to bring the problem to an end once and for all. It is never too late to make a change, and together we can make a difference.” ~ Ibrahim Kamara
In 2020, with schools closed due to COVID, SHARP began an agriculture program in order to address the problem of hunger and limited income producing opportunities. This program has grown, and now includes a seed and tool loan program and sustainable agriculture training.
In 2023 we provided training to 89 farmers, and seed loans to 40 farmers. We added a tool loan program, and hope to increase the number a farmers we support. This is life changing for families who are now able to produce food and earn a living.
In 2023 we began a second school in a remote area, Newton Village. With only $800, a team of skilled volunteers, a building loaned to us by the village chief, and the determination of the village residents, school opened in September for 56 children who had never been to school before. We have 5 dedicated teachers who work for a monthly stipend and travel 6 miles by bicycle each way in order to give these children an education. Enrollment is already increasing.
About The Founder
Ibrahim is the founder and administrative head of The Empowering Children School in Sierra Leone. He founded the school in order to provide schooling for children who would otherwise have no access to an education. The majority of his pupils come from the slums and creeks of Freetown. His vision to help this community move to a safe place came about after seeing his pupils and their families hit by the floods year after year. The only alternative is relocation to a new place that is safer, and out of the flood zone.
Board of Directors
