At SHARP and Empowering Children Schools, we believe that lasting change starts with access—to knowledge, to tools, and to opportunity. That’s why we’re excited to share an update about one of our most impactful projects yet: a comprehensive agricultural program designed to support smallholder farmers in rural Sierra Leone.
The farmers we work with, many of whom are women, live in remote areas with limited access to resources. To support them, we offer seed and tool loans, hands-on training, and ongoing expert guidance. But we’re not stopping there.
We’re currently building a model farm on our 50 acres.
This is a space where learning and nourishment go hand in hand. This farm will feature locally grown crops, a food forest, and a poultry unit that can house up to 1,000 chickens. It’s designed to serve a dual purpose: providing food for the local community and offering a real-life, working example of sustainable farming practices.
This initiative is a key part of our broader mission: to break down the social and economic barriers that prevent individuals and families from thriving. In Sierra Leone, climate challenges, lack of education, and few income-earning opportunities can keep entire communities trapped in cycles of poverty. Our agriculture program helps address all three by giving adults the training and tools to feed their families and earn a living.
In addition to our work in agriculture, we also run two schools that provide quality education to children in underserved rural and urban areas. While education and empowerment go hand in hand in all we do, this project focuses specifically on the farming side—growing food, growing skills, and growing futures.
Planting the Seeds of Change
Our incredible volunteers have been working tirelessly to clear new sections of land for cultivation—and the results are already taking root. With energy, dedication, and a whole lot of teamwork, they’ve begun transforming the space into a thriving source of food and learning for the community.
So far, they’ve planted a wide variety of fruit trees, including coconut, guava, orange, lemon, lime, banana, and cashew. These trees will not only nourish the community but also help create a diverse, sustainable ecosystem on the farm.
On the vegetable side, the ground is already yielding promise. Planted crops include watermelon, benne (sesame), cassava, corn, pumpkins, several varieties of peppers, eggplants—and of course, peanuts, a local staple.
Every tree and seed planted is more than just food for the future—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared vision for growth and resilience.
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- Peanuts growing in front of the chicken coop
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- Seeds planted and growing
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- Corn growing in front of the chicken coop
Construction is underway on our new chicken coop!
Our new chicken coop is designed to house up to 1,000 chickens! This is a big step forward in our mission to build a farm that not only feeds the community but also teaches sustainable, ethical farming practices.
Our approach to poultry is rooted in care and compassion. We’re committed to raising our chickens ethically and humanely—because healthy, happy chickens mean better outcomes for everyone. The coop will provide a safe, comfortable environment, and in return, the chickens will provide eggs for food and waste that can be used as natural fertilizer, further enriching the soil and closing the sustainability loop on the farm.
We’re also exploring the possibility of hatching chicks on-site, which would allow us to raise future layers and ensure a continuous, self-sustaining flock.
Like the rest of our agricultural efforts, the chicken coop will serve two important purposes: producing nutritious food for the local community and acting as a hands-on training space for farmers to learn about ethical poultry care and integrated farming techniques.
Stay tuned as we continue to cultivate both land and opportunity in rural Sierra Leone!
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- A hive of wild bees will provide pollination
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- Vegetable seeds in the “nursery”
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- A variety of vegetables were planted
