What will you be doing in Sierra Leone?

As an Extra Mile volunteer you will work in pre-primary, primary or secondary schools in the small fishing village of Goderich. It is a poor, rambling, settlement situated to the south of Freetown (30 minutes away by bus (poda, poda - meaning ‘slowly, slowly’ ). The schools are varied in just about every criterion used, from size to faith, from wealth to degree of dereliction. No two schools are the same, even next to one another. Each has its own story to tell. This pedagogic mosaic does a fine job to educate its young but desperately needs further professional support.

Volunteers may come from a variety of backgrounds but in Sierra Leone you will also need to be able to assist teachers in basic English and numeracy. You may also be asked to help in organising extra-curricular activities. such as sports activities. Since your school may not always have the benefit of a volunteer to help, the legacy of your work and training is what will sustain them into the future. Your expertise may also be needed in the form of training or guidance to construct their own school systems and policies.

Here are some examples of some of the work which could be done in schools:

• Help with lessons;
• Help with basic reading and writing;
• Help with basic addition and subtraction;
  
• Help with pupil progress & assessment;
• Help with creating resources;
• Help with pupil behaviour;
• Help in Monitoring attendance;
• Help with pupil target-setting.

These are just some of the professional ways in which volunteers may be able to help. Many of the Sierra Leonean teachers are well-qualified and thoroughly professional and would compare well with many competent teachers in the UK. Working alongside them, encouraging and enhancing their already considerable skills would enable them to help other young Sierra Leonean teachers in the future. The essential aim of your volunteer work should be to build sustainable systems through and with the help of these teachers. They should be the ‘authors’ and ‘owners’ of any new schemes/policies which are introduced to the school. It is only by working alongside these staff any real progress can be achieved but also sustained beyond your stay. The pupils and staff will be interested in you and in your life in the UK. They will want to know everything about you and your family, so bring along plenty of pictures of yourself, your family, your home, town, and general visuals of UK life and maybe your previous school. Be assured you will be appreciated!!!