PRESS RELEASE December 29, 2012, Freetown
Miriam Mason-Sesay, Country Director EducAid Sierra Leone, awarded an MBE in Her Majesty’s 2013 New Year’s Honours List for her outstanding contribution to education and charitable work in Sierra Leone
EducAid Sierra Leone, a UK registered charity, has been providing high quality education to some of the poorest children in Sierra Leone since 1994. Miriam Mason-Sesay has lived in-country since 2000, initially visiting in 1998 to work with the Guinea-based refugees fleeing the horrific civil war.
Originally from Banbury in Oxfordshire where her parents still live, Miriam was educated at Blessed George Napier secondary school and then attended Goldsmiths College, London to read French. Subsequently she trained as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge.
Prior to moving to Sierra Leone, Miriam taught in the UK, including the Salesian college in Battersea, London and St Edmunds College, Ware, Herts – primarily focusing on modern languages.
Since moving to Sierra Leone, EducAid, under Miriam’s close direction, has established a network of schools which are successfully challenging the national culture of under-performance. Restricting intake to the very poorest and using a robust, success-focused curriculum, EducAid has achieved the best exam results in the country year after year.
EducAid Chairman, Dr James Boardman, said that he was delighted for Miriam.
“She deserves the recognition for her unique and selfless contribution. She has both delivered EducAid’s programme and personally raised the bulk of the necessary funds to do so. The personal cost to Miriam has been significant: it is terrific to see public acknowledgement of her work”.
EducAid students were affected by the war in so many ways: a significant number live permanently in EducAid facilities – for want of dependable family. Many are rejected by, or have no family to look after them. EducAid provides daily food, education and medication through their academic life at a cost of approximately £180 per student per year.
EducAid is predominantly funded from private resources in England: individual philanthropists, schools and churches provide EducAid’s ongoing funding base. In addition EducAid has, when requested, provided services through funding from a range of international bilateral donors – including the UK’s Department for International Development.
Further information on EducAid’s work can be found at www.educaid.org.uk or contact Dr James Boardman (james@educaid.org.uk)
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/new-year-honours-2013
If you want to make a donation please go to www.educaid.org.uk and click on the mydonate button. Remember it costs £15 per month to educate and feed a child, that is a pizza and a drink in the UK. The best Christmas present you could give us is to sign up for a direct debit of £15 per month.
EducAid Sierra Leone is a charity helping to improve education in Sierra Leone. Registered charity no. 1048012
Miriam Mason-Sesay, Country Director EducAid Sierra Leone, awarded an MBE in Her Majesty’s 2013 New Year’s Honours List for her outstanding contribution to education and charitable work in Sierra Leone
EducAid Sierra Leone, a UK registered charity, has been providing high quality education to some of the poorest children in Sierra Leone since 1994. Miriam Mason-Sesay has lived in-country since 2000, initially visiting in 1998 to work with the Guinea-based refugees fleeing the horrific civil war.
Originally from Banbury in Oxfordshire where her parents still live, Miriam was educated at Blessed George Napier secondary school and then attended Goldsmiths College, London to read French. Subsequently she trained as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge.
Prior to moving to Sierra Leone, Miriam taught in the UK, including the Salesian college in Battersea, London and St Edmunds College, Ware, Herts – primarily focusing on modern languages.
Since moving to Sierra Leone, EducAid, under Miriam’s close direction, has established a network of schools which are successfully challenging the national culture of under-performance. Restricting intake to the very poorest and using a robust, success-focused curriculum, EducAid has achieved the best exam results in the country year after year.
EducAid Chairman, Dr James Boardman, said that he was delighted for Miriam.
“She deserves the recognition for her unique and selfless contribution. She has both delivered EducAid’s programme and personally raised the bulk of the necessary funds to do so. The personal cost to Miriam has been significant: it is terrific to see public acknowledgement of her work”.
EducAid students were affected by the war in so many ways: a significant number live permanently in EducAid facilities – for want of dependable family. Many are rejected by, or have no family to look after them. EducAid provides daily food, education and medication through their academic life at a cost of approximately £180 per student per year.
EducAid is predominantly funded from private resources in England: individual philanthropists, schools and churches provide EducAid’s ongoing funding base. In addition EducAid has, when requested, provided services through funding from a range of international bilateral donors – including the UK’s Department for International Development.
Further information on EducAid’s work can be found at www.educaid.org.uk or contact Dr James Boardman (james@educaid.org.uk)
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/new-year-honours-2013
If you want to make a donation please go to www.educaid.org.uk and click on the mydonate button. Remember it costs £15 per month to educate and feed a child, that is a pizza and a drink in the UK. The best Christmas present you could give us is to sign up for a direct debit of £15 per month.
and If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young people, please go to
You can keep up with the currrent news and activities at the EducAid Face Book website: FB page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/48572325218/
EducAid Sierra Leone is a charity helping to improve education in Sierra Leone. Registered charity no. 1048012
