AdvocAid and African Prisons Project (APP) are partnering to establish prison libraries in Pademba Road Prison, Sierra Leone’s maximum security prison in the capital Freetown.  A library in the male section is being constructed in partnership with the United Nations. We will refurbish rooms in the new women’s detention facility which will be in operation later this year.

Sierra Leone suffered a brutal decade-long civil war that formally ended in 2002, although the country continues to experience widespread extreme poverty and is currently ranked second to last on the Human Development Index. Pademba Road prison was erected in 1914 to house approximately 300 inmates and now holds more than 1, 300 inmates (men, women and often juveniles) in overcrowded and deplorable conditions. There are on average 60 female detainees and their babies.

AdvocAid have been running weekend literacy classes in the female section since 2006. In 2008 EducAid Sierra Leone were contracted by AdvocAid to deliver literacy classes to female prisoners. As there are no classroom facilities, classes currently take place in the cell of death row prisoners.

The Pademba Road libraries will provide detainees with possibilities for education and recreation, thereby providing hope during detention and ease reintegration into communities upon release. They will also benefit prison officers, medical staff and lawyers through provision of specialist books. The libraries will have computer equipment to provide IT training for inmates and prison staff as well as access to electronic literature and resources. It is envisioned that the library will be eventually registered as an examination centre so inmates can undertake correspondence courses and examinations to obtain qualifications.

We need your help to raise money to purchase books in Sierra Leone and to fund costs of shipping books from the UK. We also need to buy computer equipment and to construct furniture for the libraries.

We also hope to raise funds to enable APP's librarians in Uganda to spend time in Sierra Leone training and assisting the librarians for the Pademba Road prison libraries.

Thank you for helping us to enhance the lives of prisoners in Sierra Leone.

AdvocAid - an organisation, registered in Sierra Leone, which supports justice, education and reintegration for women in prison in Sierra Leone.

African Prisons Project  - a UK charity founded to improve the welfare, health, education and aftercare of detainees in Africa. APP have conducted refurbishment projects in prisons in Uganda, Kenya and Sierra Leone, including establishment of libraries in various prisons.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to  APP and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate.