Sierra Leone was one of 6 African countries affected by a deadly Ebola outbreak that started in 2013 and wreaked havoc across the continent for nearly 3 years. In Sierra Leone alone, there were more than 14,000 cases—almost 4,000 of which ended in death. During this time, the only way for locals to protect themselves from the disease was to cease all contact with others in their community.
There was a massive quarantine, which included school closings and the banning of local community groups. In a society where it was already difficult for young girls to receive support for their education, they could only learn through radio-based lectures. And furthermore, they lost access to one of the most beneficial programs, a girls’ club founded by Canadian non-profit Beautiful World.
Beautiful World provides aid and education to girls in Sierra Leone, Uganda and South Africa. Among the many services they provide are tuition funds, mentoring, tutoring, counseling and housing.
The non-profit recognized that girls in these countries were destined to stop learning at a young age and become servants to their families, and eventually their husbands. Beautiful World sought to give these girls access to education and a chance at a more fulfilling life.
In 2015, Beautiful World helped send Ebola orphans to high school. They also instituted a Graduation Prep program and helped coordinate direct sponsorship for students in all three countries.
Beautiful World’s impact can be seen in various ways. 22-year-old Phionah lived in a 15-person household where finances were tight and higher education wasn’t an option. After being awarded a scholarship from Beautiful World, she could complete secondary school and move on to Makerere University where she is currently finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Her story is inspirational, and she’s just one of many who’ve benefitted from involvement with the organization.
Beautiful World seeks to uplift African women and provide them with a path toward education and career. Today, it’s three countries. In the future, who knows how many countries—how many young girls—this organization can impact.
Through donations and continued focus on these Ebola-impacted regions, they’ll continue to make a difference in these girls’ lives—an impact that will eventually be felt throughout the world.