Clinetown Launches Project to Keep Girls in School
By Mackie M. Jalloh
In Clinetown, where economic challenges often limit educational opportunities, a beacon of hope is emerging for young girls. The Clinetown Educational Organization Sierra Leone (CEO SL), led by visionary Yasin Bah, has launched the “Save Girls’ Education Project” a one-year pilot program aimed at keeping vulnerable girls in school, empowering families, and strengthening community involvement in education.
Running from August 2025 to July 2026, the project targets adolescent girls aged 8 to 15, a group most at risk of dropping out due to poverty, cultural pressures, and lack of support systems.
The initiative goes beyond traditional aid by combining academic support, mentorship, health resources, and economic assistance. Its five main objectives include:
- Mentorship for 70 vulnerable girls, focusing on academic guidance, health awareness, and life skills through workshops led by female professionals and university students.
- Provision of essential learning materials bags, books, and stationery at the start of every school term.
- Distribution of sanitary pads, ensuring menstrual hygiene does not become a barrier to attendance.
- Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) sent directly to families via SIM-enabled systems, reducing the financial burden of schooling.
- Summer classes for 200+ girls during August and September to provide structured academic support and protect against idleness or early pregnancy.
Parents will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to ensure accountability, while quarterly meetings between guardians and teachers will maintain transparency and strengthen collaboration.
“No girl in Clinetown should be left behind because of poverty,” said Yasin Bah, reiterating CEO SL’s mission to break the cycle of educational exclusion.
As part of its commitment to academic excellence, CEO SL recently recognized the top nine pupils of Bishop Crowther Primary School for their outstanding performance:
- Bah Mamadu R – 314
- Kamara Zainab – 306
- Gbosowa Sia H – 304
- Bangura Abdulai U – 301
- Gbla Sallieu – 301
- Kamara Marie – 300
- Bah Isata – 297
- Mansaray Fatima M – 297
- Mansaray Theresa – 297
The launch event brought together parents, educators, and local leaders, all praising CEO SL’s efforts.
Valentina RD Oubee, Chairperson of the event, called the partnership between CEO SL, schools, and parents “a cornerstone for building an educated Clinetown.”
Mary Bangura, representing parents, thanked CEO SL for its “tremendous contributions” and prayed for the program’s continuity.
Headmistress Fatmata A. Fofanah expressed gratitude to CEO SL and its leader, Yasin Bah, urging parents to cooperate with teachers for their children’s success.
Chief Mohamed S. Bah, Secretary of the Chiefdom Council, emphasized that “education is the best inheritance we can give our children,” urging parents to avoid child labor and keep all children in school.
Council Representative Alimatu Thoronka highlighted the project’s impact: “Once seen as a community of unskilled youth, today we are prioritizing education.”
Keynote Speaker Mohamed Sanusie Bah assured stakeholders that this initiative is just the beginning of a long journey to transform education in Clinetown.
For decades, poverty has been the greatest barrier to education in Clinetown. Families often face the difficult choice between schooling and child labor. Girls are disproportionately affected, with early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and cultural expectations pushing many out of classrooms.
CEO SL’s intervention is revolutionary. By addressing economic barriers and providing holistic support, the organization is giving Clinetown’s girls more than education it is giving them a future.
“When we invest in education, we build peace, development, and hope for tomorrow,” said Chief Bah, echoing the sentiment of all present.
As the program rolls out, CEO SL calls on stakeholders, parents, and the wider community to ensure that no girl in Clinetown is left behind. Under Yasin Bah’s leadership, the dream of a well-educated, empowered Clinetown is steadily becoming a reality.
