The project aims to support education for marginalized populations in Sierra Leone and Liberia in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). The project’s innovative approach harnesses proven resources from traditional education programs with proven communication methods, used in the agricultural development sector through rural radio. Project activities include: (1) distributing family literacy kits to girls and boys with books and parents’ lesson plan guide; (2) providing up-to-date and evidence-based basic information about COVID-19 transmission prevention; (3) providing radio programs including gender-responsive and learner-centered content for primary school students and their families; and (4) distributing teachers’ lesson plan guide. Project beneficiaries include 70,000 children (of which 50% are girls), approximately 350,000 people members of their families (of which 50% are women), and 2,100 teachers (of which 840 are women). The project expects to indirectly reach up to 637,837 Liberians (of which 50% are women) and 687,989 Sierra Leoneans (of which 50% are women) who live in the districts, and are able to listen to the radio where the programs are broadcasting.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased provision of gender-responsive learning materials for primary school students and their families that include information about the COVID-19 crisis and preventative health measures; (2) increased interaction through radio between the education sector and community groups made up of parents and caregivers, that includes information about the COVID-19 crisis and preventative health measures; and (3) improved attitudes expressed towards gender equality and girls’ empowerment by girls, boys and their families.
