Girls Safety Matters, in partnership with the I.B. Taylor-Kamara Foundation, has launched the “Girls Ready to Lead” Campaign with a renewed call for greater investment in the safety, protection, education and leadership of girls across Sierra Leone. The campaign, launched on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Aberdeen, Freetown, is being implemented under the theme: “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead.”
Programme Coordinator of Girls Safety Matters, Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, said the organisation is committed to protecting girls and creating an enabling environment in which they could participate meaningfully in society.
He maintained that the safety, dignity and well-being of girls are essential to social justice, community stability and sustainable national development. He said challenges affecting girls must receive sustained attention from families, communities, institutions and policymakers.
Sorie Ibrahim Koroma explained that Girls Safety Matters works with girls, young people, families and community stakeholders to address gender-based violence, sexual harassment, discrimination and harmful traditional practices. Its activities include education, advocacy, research, psychosocial support and community engagement.
The organisation also provides information on personal safety, girls’ rights, life skills, the identification and prevention of abuse. It helps survivors of violence, trauma and neglect access counselling, psychosocial assistance and referral services.
Sorie Ibrahim Koroma disclosed that approximately 90 percent of the organization’s members are university students, describing the platform as an important avenue for amplifying the voices of young people.
He said the campaign started in January 2026 and had since undertaken activities in schools and communities. Education on sexual and reproductive health, access to support services and the development of confidence among girls remain central to the initiative.
Founder of Girls Safety Matters, Berny Global, called for increased investment in the safety, well-being and empowerment of girls. She argued that girls should be recognized as present leaders and agents of change rather than merely described as leaders of the future.
She emphasized that the mental and emotional well-being of women, girls and children living with disabilities must form part of every empowerment initiative.
“Empowerment without well-being is incomplete,” she stated.
Reflecting on her childhood, Berny Global said she grew up with aspirations but often had limited opportunities to express herself. She later entered spaces where she was the youngest person, the only girl and the only African.
According to her, providing girls with safety creates the space they need to discover their voices and contribute meaningfully to society. She warned that many girls abandon their education and ambitions because their environments are unsafe rather than because they lack intelligence or determination.
Berny Global described the campaign as a matter of justice intended to remove barriers that had historically prevented girls and women from realizing their full potential.
“The Girls Ready to Lead Campaign is not charity. It is justice,” she said, adding: “African girls are not future leaders; we are leaders now.”
Strategic Adviser for Innovation, Arts and Creative Expression and Chief Executive Officer of Popplies, Tiah Knox, encouraged participants to take personal responsibility for promoting positive change in their homes, schools and communities.
Tiah Knox said leadership does not require a formal title or position. She urged the girls to honour the leadership pledge they took during the ceremony by remaining committed to education, discipline, responsible conduct and community service.
She encouraged them to research the achievements of young women around the world, identify challenges within their communities and use their abilities to develop solutions.
Sharing her personal experience, Tiah Knox disclosed that she established a restaurant at Connaught in Freetown when she was 12 years old. She said the experience demonstrated that difficult circumstances should not determine the direction of a person’s life.
The event included a leadership pledge through which participating girls committed themselves to learning, speaking up, taking action and demonstrating courage, compassion, purpose and integrity.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the I.B. Taylor-Kamara Foundation, Tejan Jalloh, called for stronger community participation in efforts to protect and empower girls.
He said the Foundation is dedicated to supporting less-privileged women and girls through economic empowerment and educational opportunities. Its interventions include financial assistance for women to establish businesses and scholarships for young people pursuing higher education.
Tejan Jalloh said the partnership with Girls Safety Matters is built on a shared commitment to investing in girls and creating opportunities for them to realize their potential.
He stressed that organisations could not protect girls without the participation of parents, community leaders and other stakeholders. He described the launch as the beginning of sustained community-level engagement rather than the conclusion of the initiative.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Kadijatu Grace Kamara, urged girls to embrace their identities, remain focused on education and develop the confidence required to become leaders and agents of change.
Drawing from her personal experiences, Dr. Kadijatu Grace Kamara disclosed that she survived sexual assault at the age of 10 and later endured difficult circumstances that affected her childhood. She said she nevertheless refused to allow her past to determine her future.
“Everybody has a story. Your story is a button-pusher that propels you to be a better version of yourself,” she said.
Dr. Kadijatu Grace Kamara urged girls not to compare their journeys with those of others or allow social media trends and material expectations to determine their choices. She emphasized education, personal development, authenticity, dignity and good character.
She welcomed the campaign as a timely platform through which girls and women could tell their own stories instead of having their experiences interpreted by others. She encouraged African girls to remain strong, bold and courageous when confronting life’s challenges.
Presidential Adviser on Gender, Isatu Jabbie Kabbah, similarly urged girls to seize available opportunities and prepare themselves for leadership.
She said leadership could be demonstrated through positive influence within families, schools and communities and should not be restricted to Government appointments or other prominent positions.
Isatu Jabbie Kabbah explained that she did not come from a privileged background but pursued education with determination and eventually obtained a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies.
She advised girls to use technology and social media for education and personal development and cautioned them against sharing inappropriate content that could have long-term consequences.
The Presidential Adviser also encouraged participants to choose friends, role models and partners carefully, noting that personal associations could significantly influence their character and future.
She urged the girls to understand their worth, remain committed to their goals and become positive examples to others.
The campaign will continue through engagements in schools and communities, with organizers seeking stronger partnerships to promote girls’ safety, rights, confidence and participation in national development.
