At The Raining Season, we see the value in education. Whether the goal is to eventually attend university or learn a trade, the skills learned in school are invaluable. While TRS has its own school onsite, once children reach grade seven, they begin attending school outside the center at Rising Academy. Rising Academy is a great fit for the children at The Raining Season because of the excellent education it offers and its close proximity to the center. This week, we are taking a closer look at Rising Academy Network.
Rising Academy was founded in Sierra Leone in 2014, providing emergency education to children kept out of school by the Ebola Epidemic. Their dedication to serving students continued with the opening of their first school in April 2015. Rising Academy helps teachers and school leaders bring quality to every classroom through great curriculum materials, intensive teacher coaching, and actionable data. They innovate through low-cost private schools they own and operate themselves, then take these learnings and work with governments and other partners to improve the quality of their schools at scale. Data from 2019 showed that Rising Academy schools in Sierra Leone had significant gains in their evaluations, especially for girls. This is a true testament to their education model and hard work.
Today, Rising Academy Network serves more than 250,000 students across 700 schools in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Rwanda. Within Freetown, it is equipping young students with the tools they need to thrive. With a focus on affordability and accessibility, they're making quality education a reality for more families. The impact of Rising Academy expands beyond academics. Rising Academy Network fosters strong character development, preparing students not just for exams but for life. Their core values – "We are Rising: We come to school every day, hungry to learn and thirsty for knowledge" – resonate throughout the classrooms, fostering a love of learning that empowers young minds.
We know how important an excellent education is in impacting our children's future success. Education is a stepping stone in helping our kids achieve their dreams of becoming accountants, nurses, logistics officers, teachers, and pursuing other jobs and trades. We are thankful for Rising Academy and the influential role it plays in helping our children as well as others across Sierra Leone and beyond.
Many blessings,
The Raining Season