Develop Salone–DESAL, a national Non-Governmental Organization headquartered in Makeni, Bombali District, has between 2021 and 2025 funded and supported the construction of four educational institutions in Robombeh community, Makari Chiefdom, Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone. The project was financed through proceeds generated by DESAL Investment Organic Farm (DIOF) and the organization’s microfinance initiatives, reflecting DESAL’s commitment to self-sustaining, community-driven development.
The schools constructed include As-Sabiqun Islamic Pre-Primary School, As-Sabiqun Islamic Primary School, As-Sabiqun Islamic Junior Secondary School, and As-Sabiqun Islamic Senior Secondary School. Together, these institutions provide a complete educational pathway from early childhood development to senior secondary education, significantly improving access to quality learning opportunities for children and adolescents in Robombeh and surrounding communities who previously had to travel long distances to attend school.
The project involved the construction of classroom blocks, administrative offices, and sanitation facilities, creating a safe, inclusive, and child-friendly learning environment. In addition to physical infrastructure, DESAL worked closely with community leaders, school authorities, parents, and local education stakeholders to ensure ownership, sustainability, and effective utilization of the facilities. The intervention has contributed to increased school enrolment, improved attendance, and reduced dropout rates, particularly among girls and children from vulnerable households.
Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Director of Develop Salone–DESAL, Al-Hassan Sallieu Kemoh Sesay, emphasized that the project was not undertaken to showcase the organization’s capacity, but rather as a response to the urgent need for national development and human capital investment. He stated,
“DESAL did not fund and support the construction of these schools to demonstrate what we can do; rather, it is our response to the call for nation-building and the empowerment of the younger generation through quality and accessible education.”
He further highlighted the importance of national organization’s taking responsibility for driving development beyond reliance on donor funding.
“Sierra Leone’s development interventions have gone beyond the stage where we wait solely for international partners. As national development partners, we must mobilize our own resources to support our communities, complement government efforts, and contribute meaningfully to national development priorities,” he said
Community stakeholders and beneficiaries have expressed appreciation for DESAL’s intervention, noting that the schools have reduced overcrowding in neighboring institutions, improved learning outcomes, and strengthened community confidence in locally led development initiatives. The project stands as a strong example of how internally generated resources can be leveraged to support sustainable education development and contribute to long-term social and economic transformation in rural communities.
