Umaro Koroma* spent most of his childhood without a home, navigating the challenging streets of Bo, Sierra Leone alone. Orphaned and without formal guardianship, he survived by taking on odd jobs and depending on the kindness of strangers. Like many street-connected children in Sierra Leone, his life was marked by instability, stigma, and exclusion, and he had never set foot in a classroom.

“I thought my life would just stay the same,” Umaro expressed. “All I wanted was a chance to learn like other children.” This became a reality in early 2023 when a Social Worker from the Education For Every Child Today (EFECT) project, implemented by Street Child in collaboration with the Education Above All Foundation’s Educate A Child (EAC) programme, met Umaro during a community outreach visit in Bo.

The EFECT team provided ongoing support to Umaro, which enabled them to reunite him with his uncle, who welcomed him into his home, ensuring a safe living environment. As part of EFECT’s holistic support model, social workers engaged both Umaro and his uncle in sessions aimed at conveying the long-term importance of education. With this support in place, Umaro was enrolled in a local primary school and received a complete education kit, including uniforms, exercise books, a school bag, and writing materials.

“I was moved by the way the Social Worker talked to me about my future and how education could change my life. I felt important,” said Umaro. “I was so happy when they helped me go back home to my uncle and brothers.”

Since his enrolment, Umaro has shown remarkable dedication to his studies. His consistent school attendance has been noteworthy, and his teachers commend his discipline, eagerness to learn, and positive demeanour in the classroom. Beyond academic growth, Umaro has cultivated a renewed sense of self-worth and a profound feeling of belonging.

“Umaro is one of the most attentive and motivated students in my class. He’s always eager to answer questions and help his classmates,” shared his teacher.

Umaro’s experience is emblematic of the thousands whose lives are being transformed through the EFECT project, which aims to enrol and retain 96,000 school-aged children in primary education across Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria by 2026. By tackling barriers such as poverty, family instability, and social exclusion, EFECT ensures that vulnerable children like Umaro are not overlooked.

His journey also underscores progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), illustrating how inclusive, community-driven solutions can foster significant change.

No longer facing exclusion, Umaro now has the opportunity to shape his future. He is thriving in school and aspires to become a lawyer to advocate for others who, like him, once had no voice.

*name changed for safeguarding