Enterprise Academies International (EAI)
Registered Charity no: 1192272
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Changing lives
Transformation that Enterprise Academies projects bring to communities in Sierra Leone
Successful projects benefit everyone in the communities we support
“Sierra Leone (SL) has suffered greatly both through civil war and then Ebola in more recent years. Following an invitation to visit in 2018 I was shocked by the poverty that I saw which was more stark than any other developing nation I had visited in previous years. The irony of abundance of natural resources and yet poverty and suffering surely had a solution. Whilst visiting various SL government departments and local authorities the vision for community owned enterprises began to crystallise as a model for regeneration. The model is simple, based on local ownership, local natural resources and community provision of labour with the support of start-up resources and training. provided by Enterprise Academies International (EAI)”
David Edgecumbe, EAI Founder Chair of Trustees
Empowering communities through productive employment
It's quite remarkable how transformative training is, to inspire vision and promote positive self determination.
With the broad experience I have working with NGO's in African nations I was drawn to Enterprise Academies International (EAI) through what they have achieved in Sierra Leone. Young people are gaining new skills and producing local goods and farm produce to generate income that brings transforming domestic change.
Our Enterprise Academies (EA) training projects in Kafogo and Kenema bring opportunities to young men and women to both vocationally train and then start small income generating businesses that provide essential food produce and products. These are sold locally to bring income. Training in services is particularly popular including tailoring and dress making using the sewing machines supplied by EAI.
EAI provides start-up resources to help EA's get established with the aim that EA projects become self sustaining.'
Our aim in 2025 is to establish two further successful EA projects in needy communities in Sierra Leone in partnership with those
communities who will also own their projects.
Dr Kehinde Abiola, EAI Funding Manager
Vocational skills
“ The EAI model for training young people and locally owned enterprises hosted on land provided by communities certainly caught my attention. I believe it will help address poverty especially in rural communities”
Hon. Charles Bio, Sierra Leone Minister
Local produce
“The EAI model for regeneration of Sierra Leone communities is bringing engagement to young people. The skills they gain enable them to start small social enterprises which bring employment and life transforming income. The communities provide the land, locally available materials and the labour which reinforces their ownership. EAI provide the support and start-up resources to begin and then facilitate their journey,”
Howard Lunt, EAI Trustee
Sustainable agriculture
“Enterprise Academies International has a vision to transform local communities in Sierra Leone and other African developing nations through the Enterprise Academies (EA) we facilitate, which are owned by the local people who host them. Having grown up in Sierra Leone I saw the needs that persist since the decimating effects of civil war. Whilst now working in the UK and part of the EAI team I'm able to help my people through the vision of the charity.”
Samuel Sesay, EAI Trustee
Positive change in Kafogo village, Sierra Leone
“We have a vision to transform our community with the skills and support that we have gained through Enterprise Academies International”
Young people from the Kafogo community
First Enterprise Academies building
“Our first training building in Kafogo being constructed by the community of Fadugu who have taken on the EAI model for local training and local social enterprise. We have been inspired by the simplicity and effectiveness of the EAI vision for which we assigned land for the buildings and local enterprise initiatives which bring skills, employment and income to our young people”
Chief Saio Sesay, Fadugu district
