In 2008 I was living in a Freetown slum and working as a tour guide. Every day I would walk through crowded streets, witnessing life in our community. One thing I could never ignore was the sight of children without a school, without a future. So I took a leap. I gathered a few kids in a tiny room and began to teach them social studies, determined to give them a chance, however small, at something better.

But life in the slums was more than tough; it was unforgiving. When the rains came, floods tore through our community, sweeping away homes, possessions, and sometimes lives. Year after year families would rebuild only to see their efforts erased by the next flood. I watched as parents struggled and as children missed school to help their families recover. In those moments I felt the endless cycle of loss and vulnerability that defined our lives.

From these experiences, the Safe Haven Adaptive Response Program (SHARP) was born. Our mission is to combat the harsh climate challenges in Freetown, and our approach combines Quality Education, Sustainable Agriculture, and Disaster Relief.

I began the Freetown school with just two children, teaching them in that little room. Today, our school serves 220 children, safe from the flood-prone areas. Our seed center empowers 100 farmers each year with seeds, tools, and the skills they need to make a living. And our disaster relief program reaches almost 100 families annually, helping them rebuild with resilience and hope.

And it is all thanks to generous people like you, people who believe in change, who see potential in a child’s smile, and who know that with the right support, communities like ours can thrive. Recently, we launched our second school in Newton, a remote village. Last year, it started with 56 children; this year, we have 86 students eager to learn. We have laid the foundation, but we urgently need your help to complete the walls, raise the roof, and build a place where these children can dream without fear of being displaced by flood.

With the support of friends, we completed the foundation and backfilled it. But we need your help to build the walls, put on the roof, and open doors to this new future. Every bit of support matters. Your gift helps us raise more than buildings, it raises dreams, and it builds hope that cannot be washed away.