Peace Corps Sierra Leone has commemorated 64 years of partnership with Sierra Leone on September 30, 2026, highlighting decades of collaboration in education, community development and knowledge sharing.
The commemoration draws inspiration from the Krio saying, “One Hand Cannot Tie a Bundle,” reflecting the spirit of cooperation that has defined the relationship between Peace Corps volunteers and Sierra Leonean communities since 1962.
Over the past six decades, Peace Corps Sierra Leone has worked alongside Sierra Leoneans through some of the country’s most challenging periods, including the civil war, the Ebola outbreak and subsequent recovery efforts.
Although the civil conflict forced Peace Corps volunteers to leave the country, the organisation later returned and resumed its programmes. Its continued engagement has reinforced a partnership centred on working directly with communities and supporting locally driven development.
Education remains a major focus of the organization’s work in Sierra Leone. Peace Corps volunteers currently serve in classrooms, working alongside Sierra Leonean teachers and pupils at different levels of the education system.
Some volunteers support English teaching in elementary schools while others work with teachers and pupils in Mathematics and Science at junior secondary school level.
Rather than replacing Sierra Leonean teachers, the volunteers collaborate with them to exchange knowledge, strengthen teaching practices and improve classroom learning. The approach is intended to contribute to stronger outcomes in foundational literacy, numeracy, Mathematics and Science.
Through the collaboration, Peace Corps Sierra Leone seeks to ensure that knowledge and skills shared during volunteer assignments remain within schools and communities long after individual volunteers complete their service.
Under the latest phase of the partnership, a new cohort of volunteers has been deployed to Port Loko and Kono Districts to work with local schools and communities. Their deployment is expected to provide additional classroom support in communities where educational needs remain significant.
The education partnership is built around strengthening cooperation between volunteers and Sierra Leonean teachers, improving the teaching and learning of English, Mathematics and Science, and helping pupils develop the knowledge and confidence needed to achieve their potential.
The deployment to Port Loko and Kono also demonstrates continued attention to expanding educational opportunities beyond Freetown and supporting children in communities where additional teaching resources can make a difference.
Peace Corps Sierra Leone’s work further reflects the broader role of international cooperation in supporting the country’s education sector while maintaining local teachers and communities at the centre of the process.
“Education is the architecture of freedom,” the programme’s message emphasizes, underscoring the role education can play in developing generations capable of independent thinking, creating opportunities and contributing meaningfully to national development.
For every volunteer entering a Sierra Leonean classroom, the partnership creates an opportunity for mutual learning and knowledge sharing. For Sierra Leonean teachers working alongside volunteers, it also provides an avenue for exchanging professional experiences and developing approaches that can improve pupils’ learning.
After 64 years, the relationship between Sierra Leone and the Peace Corps extends beyond the deployment of volunteers. It represents a continuing commitment to cooperation, education and expanding opportunities for children and communities.
The Krio saying that has helped define the anniversary message remains relevant: “One Hand Cannot Tie a Bundle.” Through teachers, communities, volunteers and partners working together, the longstanding partnership continues to contribute to strengthening education for Sierra Leonean children.
