Overview Education is the most powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. At CTLaD, we believe every child deserves a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed — regardless of background or circumstance. Through our Educational Assistance Programme, we provide essential academic support to underprivileged youth in rural communities and members of our mentoring groups, ensuring that financial or logistical barriers do not stand between a child and their education.
The Challenge Thousands of children across Sierra Leone’s remote communities struggle to continue schooling simply because their families cannot afford basic supplies — pens, books, or uniforms. Without these tools, students fall behind, share scarce resources with classmates, or drop out altogether. For those preparing for critical national examinations — the N.P.S.E., B.E.C.E., and W.A.S.S.C.E. — the lack of past papers, revision guides, and mentorship makes an already demanding challenge feel insurmountable.
Our Response CTLaD supplies essential learning materials to students most in need, including books and exercise materials, pens, pencils, erasers and crayons, school bags and shoes, and past question papers and revision guides for national examinations. Beyond supplies, the programme is integrated with CTLaD’s Youth Mentorship and Leadership Development initiatives, providing students with academic coaching, moral support, and personal development guidance. Mentees learn effective study habits, time management, discipline, goal-setting, and resilience — preparing them not only for exams, but for life.
Our Impact Since the programme launched, CTLaD has supported hundreds of students across multiple rural communities, provided critical exam preparation materials, reduced supply-related dropout rates, and built stronger links between schools, families, and community mentors. Many beneficiaries have gone on to excel in national examinations and become role models in their communities.
