EduNations was founded in 2004, following the end of Sierra Leone’s devastating twelve-year civil war, often known as the “Blood Diamond War.” The organization began with five families who had adopted children from Sierra Leone and were deeply moved by the contrast between the opportunities their children would now have in the United States and the limited access to education for children remaining in Sierra Leone.

Motivated by this disparity, these families began building schools in under-resourced communities. In its early years, EduNations focused on fundraising to construct school buildings and partnered with local organizations to operate them. Over time, as EduNations gained experience and encountered the lasting effects of post-war challenges and systemic corruption, the organization transitioned to a more hands-on model.

Today, EduNations builds and operates its own schools as a registered NGO in Sierra Leone and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States, employing a dedicated Sierra Leonean staff. Guided by its Board of Directors, EduNations’ U.S. and in-country teams work together to ignite hope in some of the most remote rural regions of northern Sierra Leone.

EduNations currently operates 15 schools, employs more than 100 teachers and staff, and serves over 3,000 students in six communities across the districts of Bombali, Port Loko, Tonkolili, and Koinadugu—breaking the cycle of poverty through education.