Based in Seattle, WA, this non-profit group is dedicated to helping rebuild the schools destroyed in their 10 year civil war. Nofziger, formerly a Peace Corps worker in Sierra Leone, had returned in 2004 to visit old friends Joseph Lamin and John Sesay and was shocked to find that in some areas 95% of rural schools had been destroyed. She was asked to help and she said she would try - and so Schools For Salone was created. Between 2004 and 2010 she raised enough to build 10 schools and still performed in her role as teacher in the Seattle Public School system. (see www.schoolsforsalone.org)

It seemed to Garinger that here was a solution to the problem in Essex - they would get the students personally involved- they would build a school. And so a relationship developed between Essex and SFS and after a few conversations a promise was made. They would raise $40,000 and build a school, the Red Raider Learning Centre. The work began in earnest in January 2010- the plan was to complete the school and have a dedication by November 2010. In fact, the school was completed and ready to receive students by July 2010!!

Map of Sierra Leone