100,000 Pencils Across 20 Schools: Why This Still Matters

On November 20, 2025, Develop Africa distributed 100,000 pencils across 20 schools in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

This was not just a large campaign. It solved a basic problem that still affects many classrooms today.

The Real Barrier to Learning

Some students go to school without pencils. They sit in class but cannot write and wait for others to finish before they can borrow one.

No pencil means limited participation.
Limited participation leads to weaker learning outcomes.

Access to education starts with access to tools.

Why This Campaign Started

Sylvester Renner, founder of Develop Africa, saw this gap firsthand. After years of supporting schools with supplies and computer labs, one issue stood out. Students still lacked the most basic tool. That led to a clear decision.

Put pencils directly into students’ hands at scale.

The goal was to reach as many students as possible through a single coordinated effort.

What It Took to Deliver

The campaign reached:

• 20 schools across Freetown
• 10 municipal schools
• 10 partner schools

It required coordination with the Freetown City Council and local teams, which was not a small effort. It was executed in a single day.

Why This Is Ongoing

This work does not stop with one campaign.

Students need consistent support. A single intervention helps, but long-term progress depends on continuity.

Develop Africa continues to:

• Provide school supplies
• Support computer labs
• Expand access to learning tools

Because education is not a one-time need.

What You Can Do

A simple tool can change how a student learns today.

• 1 pencil means 1 student can write
• 1 student means better participation
• Better participation means stronger outcomes

Support more students here:
https://give.developafrica.org

Give monthly and help sustain access:
https://give.developafrica.org/donations/new?referral=DonationOption:2183&amount=50&recurring=monthly

Final Thought

Progress in education does not always require complex solutions.

Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a pencil.

Sylvester Renner being interviewed by Born2Blog - Sierra Leone reporter - at the Year of The Pencil Campaign Launch