The primary focus of my six-month CIDA internship in Sierra Leone was to research, examine and write on the obstacles keeping Sierra Leone girls out of school. Working alongside SLeGEN (Sierra Leone Girls Education Network) as well as members from a number of different local and international NGOs (Non Government Organisations), I was able to gain an incredible amount of experience in public speaking, networking and report writing. During my time in Freetown - the capital city - I was given the opportunity to attend and actively participate in a series of seminars, meetings and conferences relating to girls education, continually adding to my knowledge on the issue. These experiences all assisted me in completely a formal report on the status of girls’ education in Sierra Leone, which I presented to SLeGEN and UNICEF for their review and consideration. Some of the most powerful lessons that I learned while living in Sierra Leone came from speaking directly with young girls. I was continually awed and inspired by their resiliency and their determination to succeed. Women in Sierra Leone have a magnificent amount of spirit and are undoubtedly the key to the country’s future development. I feel privileged to have spent six months in Sierra Leone working with CAUSE Canada and am grateful for the impact it has had on my life.