Our Story

In 2002, a decade long civil war ended in Sierra Leone. The destruction was vast, leaving the impoverished nation with years of rebuilding ahead. Countless schools were reduced to rubble, a tragic outcome that caught the attention our founder, Cindy Nofziger.

Cindy worked in Sierra Leone in the mid-1980s as a Peace Corps Volunteer and returned to the war torn country in 2004. During that visit, her friend and Sierra Leonean counter-part, John Sesay, asked for help rebuilding the school in his village that had been destroyed during the war. Cindy quickly got to work coordinating a team. Thanks to the in-country expertise provided by another Sierra Leonean friend, Joseph Williams-Lamin, Director of Programme for Children, School for Salone’s first new school was built and opened in 2005.

The project was the start of our fruitful relationship with Programme for Children and marked the beginning of School for Salone’s commitment to community-initiated solutions. Together, the two organizations carefully identify and select villages with

Whom to partner to successfully expand education – one school, one teacher, one child at a time.

CNN Heroes Nomination: Cindy Nofziger - Founder of Schools for Salone

Cindy Nofziger’s personal journey from being a Peace Corps Volunteer at a leprosy hospital in Sierra Leone, West Africa to subsequently founding Schools for Salone to help rebuild the educational infrastructure that was destroyed by the country’s civil war, which lasted from 1991-2002.
Explore moments from our projects, events, and initiatives that showcase the dedication, passion, and transformation at the heart of our mission. Each photo tells a story of collaboration, progress, and hope. Dive in and experience the journey with us!