Sierra Leone

Background

• Sierra Leone is a coastal West African nation with a population of approximately 5 million, 80% of whom live below the poverty line.
• The UNDP Human Development Report 2004 ranked Sierra Leone as the poorest country in the world.
• Life expectancy at birth is approximately thirty-four.
• Sierra Leone bears many painful legacies of 11 years of civil war. Sexual violence against women and girls was a tool of war during the conflict, resulting in a particularly high HIV prevalence rate among women and girls: Of the 170,000 people between the ages of 15 and 49 estimated to be living with the virus in Sierra Leone in 2001, some 90,000 were female.

What we do

Right To Play supports Sierra Leone’s National HIV and AIDS program through the implementation of our Live Safe Play Safe HIV and AIDS prevention education resource. This aims to bring about long-term results that will reduce vulnerability to and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS in Sierra Leone, decrease the transmission of HIV, and foster an environment for girls and women, children with disabilities, and all vulnerable children and youth to participate in sport and play activities that contribute their holistic child development.

So far

39,948 children have participated in our programs, and 725 Coaches have been trained. Right To Play is a residing member of the Information, Education, and Communication Unit of the National AIDS Secretariat. Radio programs broadcasted to sensitise and raise awareness on Sport and Play and HIV/AIDS prevention.