Back to School After Ebola

She's the First Scholars Mariatu, 13, and Ramatulai, 12, in Sierra Leone, Nov. 26, 2015. Mariatu lost both of her parents and Ramatulai lost her father to the Ebola virus. Both girls are happy to be back in school after a year of closures.

Yeanoh, 15, poses in her classroom. She loves reading, singing, and dancing.

She's the First Scholar and fifth-grader Jelikatu's favorite class is physical education; sometimes she gets to lead it!

She's the First Scholar Kadiatu, 14, wants to be president! She wants to provide free education to girls in Sierra Leone.

Mariama, a She's the First Scholar in Sierra Leone, poses in her classroom, Nov. 24, 2015. She wants to be a nurse when she finishes school.

Monica is a fifth-grader. "I'm very curious to know what's happening everywhere. I want to know where there's problems so I can fix them if I can."

Mariama, 14, does homework in her room. She's the oldest sibling and helps her younger brother and sister with their schoolwork.

Isha's family was displaced by the war in Sierra Leone soon after she was born, and they had to leave their support network behind them. When Ebola hit the country last year, it claimed both of her parents. Isha, 15, is quick to smile and gets good grades. She's eager to be back in class after a year of no school.

She's the First Scholars and junior high students Rebecca and Marian K. pose at their school. Rebecca wants to be a bank manager and Marian wants to be a flight attendant. "I like school because they treat us like daughters," Marian said. "They teach us to be leaders. I want to help other girls."

She's the First Scholar Patricia, 15, is about to exit middle school for high school. "I'm very nervous because today's my exam to get into SSS [high school]," she said. "I studied both day and night for a month, but with all my effort, I think I will pass."

She's the First Scholar Abibatu, 17, helps her family farm everyday after school. Her favorite subject is math and she wants to work in the judiciary when she finishes school.

Seven-year-old Ismatu K. poses outside her home with her book bag. her older sister Mariama, also a She's the First Scholar, helps her with her homework everyday.

I traveled with She's the First to visit their new partner in Sierra Leone over Thanksgiving, 2015. Following the Ebola Crisis—as the nation rebuilds and moves forward—She's the First is proud to support our newest partner, the Child Welfare Society. The organization is based in Freetown and works across the country to provide girls with access to quality education as well as a support system that includes mentors who help them reach their graduation day.

I'm working with She's the First (STF) to raise the annual tuition for our first 10 Scholars in Sierra Leone. STF allocates 100% of all contributions designated to our Scholarship Fund to our partner schools to support the education of girls around the world. Every penny of your gift that we receive will go to an STF Scholar.