One Man’s Quiet Work Reshaping Villages Through Last-Mile Learning

The dust on the road to last mile communities in Koinadugu and Falaba districts rarely settles.  

It hangs heavy, a reminder of the distance: bad roads, no running water, no electricity, and the quiet, persistent grind of economic hardship. Most who can, leave. They chase the promise of bigger towns like Kabala or Freetown.

But meet Clinton Caulker. At 62, where most men are eyeing retirement, he is leaning in. Since 2019, he’s been the Project Coordinator for Schools for Salone, he is the Chief of Education at the Last Mile. It’s more than a job; it is calling.

Clinton started out simply building schools—he was a contractor. But somewhere along the way, the man who built structures became inspired by the transformative change that Schools for Salone’s schools bring to communities. 

Six years into this journey, he has become a champion of last-mile learning, leading the charge to bring quality education to the remote corners of Koinadugu and Falaba districts.

Students riding to an SfS partner school in Koromasalaia that Clinton Caulker helped build

He is the bridge. He’s the first handshake, the one who assesses a community’s commitment before construction even begins. He supervises the build, plans the open day, and ensures every desk, every book, and every learning resource arrives safely. His work is quiet, consistent, and has reshaped the villages where he works.

“What surprises me most is how eager these children are to learn, no matter the challenges they face in their communities,” he said.

You see the pride in his eyes when he speaks of the school in Kadanso, his first with Schools for Salone, which is now one of the best-performing schools in Wara Wara Bafodia Chiefdom. He has seen over 40 students from the schools he helped build qualify for university.

Clinton Caulker (left) and Cindy Nofziger (right)

Every child deserves a chance to learn, no matter how far they live. 

For Clinton, last-mile learning is the best push back against early marriage and teenage pregnancy. It’s a shield, keeping girls in school. He wants everyone to have the best opportunities.

People like Mary Kasaroh Jalloh.

Mary was struggling to pay her fees at Ernest Bai Koroma University when Clinton first saw her. She was afraid she would need to drop out. He didn’t just offer a comforting word; he offered a lifeline.

“When I told Mr. Clinton about my situation, he promised to help and he kept his word,” Mary recalls.

Through his advocacy, Schools for Salone began supporting her. Today, Mary holds an HTC in Education, is pursuing a degree, and is serving as Schools for Salone’s new Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer intern. She is a full-circle testament to his mentorship, now on the ground, ensuring other children get the chance she did.

Mary Kasaroh Jalloh

Clinton Caulker knows the secret to his success, and it’s simple: “Schools for Salone gives me full backing. That support has been the secret to my success.” He understands rural settings, he knows how to earn trust, and he has the skills to coordinate construction in challenging environments—skills sharpened years ago at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), building low-cost homes for war amputees.

His vision is clear and powerful: “Sierra Leone’s future will not be bright if we leave last-mile children behind.”

The message he carries across the treacherous backroads of the North is not complex.

Every child deserves a chance to learn, no matter how far they live. 

And Clinton Caulker, is going to make sure that chance reaches them. Anywhere in Sierra Leone, no matter the challenges, he’s ready to go.