The Mona Foundation team returned in late September 2019 from the opening celebrations of the middle school Mona funded in Njomborhun village in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

The trip was a profound experience. We have never been more inspired by a determined people. As a result of the dedicated efforts of the community and government, 150 children from six villages will now receive a quality middle school education in a safe environment.

Building the school was a dream come true for the villages, and their delight and gratitude were obvious throughout the ceremony.

Among the greeters were chiefs from six villages, officials from the ministry of education, other officials, and all the women leaders who had pleaded for the past three years with Programme for Children to build the school.

At the ceremony, one leader after another stood up to say building the school was a collaboration between local and global nonprofits and the government, but now “their work ends and your work begins.” They stressed the school’s success depends on the chiefs, elders, parents, and students. “Your backs are made to carry backpacks and not babies” was heard again and again.