Education is the best pathway out of poverty. And this year, you cleared the way for 15-year-old Posseh Kamara to continue her journey.
Posseh’s mother and father died on the same day when she was 5 years old, and she spent the next seven years in a rural village in Sierra Leone, living under her grandmother’s care. Their life — and survival — revolved around tending to the family’s small farm. School could not be a priority.
“In the village, you cannot go to schools … [you must] always work on the farm,” Posseh recalls.
When she was 12, her grandmother passed away. This was another huge loss, but it meant she would now live with her aunt Mamata, closer to town. This presented a new opportunity: access to education.
Mamata, herself no stranger to adversity, saw that her niece was bright and full of potential — and she was determined to ensure Posseh would have access to opportunities to better her life.
Posseh (right) with her aunt Mamata and cousin Adama, 11
“It was just for our survival”
Despite her best intentions, Mamata soon lost her job — throwing the family into financial hardship. Then desperation forced difficult choices. Mamata tearfully remembers asking Posseh to sell water in the streets, just to earn enough for basic meals.
“It was just for our survival,” Mamata says, heartbroken.
Instead of attending class, Posseh had to work to buy food.
If the family couldn’t afford enough to eat, school uniforms and supplies were ever farther beyond their reach. Plus, Posseh’s stomach ached from hunger, making it nearly impossible to study and attend school.
“If you don't have food, you cannot study,” she says. “When the stomach is aching, you [don’t] feel good.”
That’s why Posseh missed school frequently over the last three years. In fact, she fell several years behind in her education and still had not completed primary school.
You brought hope to Posseh’s family
Powered by your incredible compassion, Lutheran World Relief brought our pilot program to Posseh’s community in 2024. Using our attendance software, and in cooperation with school officials, our team quickly recognized that Posseh was at risk of dropping out completely — and they took action to get her the support she needed.
That’s where you came in. You made it possible for Posseh and her family to receive monthly cash assistance, and she began attending school regularly. “Five days a week!” she says proudly.
Monthly cash assistance ensures Posseh can afford lunch every day.
The cash she received covered the cost of a healthy breakfast and lunch every day, which meant she no longer had to work for her meals. And for the first time, Posseh also had school supplies and a clean school uniform each day.
Mrs. Patricia Bangura, the head teacher at Posseh’s school, says she has witnessed profound improvements in Posseh and the other girls your love is supporting.
“In the past,” Mrs. Patricia explains, “students couldn’t concentrate on reading due to hunger. Now, they’ll ask for books to take home. The learning outcomes are improving. Now the girls are in peace, learning confidently.”
Posseh, left, studies next to her best friend Mariama
Describing Posseh, Mrs. Patricia says, “You [would not] see her laugh. She was the saddest child ... But now, she’s gradually changing.”
You made miracles happen for Posseh
It costs about $29 to send a girl in Sierra Leone to school for a month. This small amount covers essentials like school expenses, meals and menstrual products — and prevents girls from having to work instead of going to school.
For Posseh, this simple gift of cash assistance made this year her best one yet. Here’s what you made possible:
1. The best birthday celebration ever
Last year, when Posseh turned 15, Mamata surprised her at school with her first-ever birthday cake.
This is a very rare treat that most families cannot afford to buy for every birthday. But for several months, Mamata set aside a small amount of the cash you provided to ensure her niece felt loved on her special day.
Posseh recalls, “I feel good because [I] never celebrated my birthday with a birthday cake [before] … and I shared it with my friends and the teachers.”
2. Posseh got to wear a cap and gown
In June, Posseh achieved a huge goal she felt was out of reach for a long time: she finally finished primary school!
In fact, she became one of 300 girls you helped graduate from primary school in Sierra Leone last year.
Encouraged by her achievement, Posseh is excited for the next step: secondary school. She also has high hopes to go to college and become a pilot one day so that she can help her family rise out of poverty.
3. She was rewarded for her hard work and character
Posseh didn’t just graduate. Her teachers selected her to be the “Student of the Year” at graduation! This award is competitive and requires a well-rounded student. Her teacher said the criteria included academic excellence, leadership and responsibility, teamwork, attendance, a good attitude and more.
You make incredible things happen when you choose to love your neighbors as Christ. Thank you for giving Posseh the opportunity to continue her education and create her own bright future!