By Millicent Senava Mannah
With regards promoting women’s leadership and participation in governance, Caritas Freetown, with funding support from Trocaire, has successfully empowered 100 women through a two-day leadership training held on the 1st and 2nd October, 2024. The event, aimed at enhancing the participants’ influence in governance processes, took place at the Western Rural District Council Hall in Waterloo, Western Rural Area.
The training brought together women from five wards: Ward 373 (Tombo, Russell, Kerry Town and Sattia), Ward 381 (Lumpa and Waterloo), Ward 392 (Hastings and Rogbangba), Ward 396 (Mongeba, Charlotte and Bathurst), and Ward 403 (Old Wharf, Tasso and Bottom Oku). The initiative forms part of Caritas Freetown’s “Strengthening Community Resilience, Women and Girls Protection Through Integrated Disaster Preparedness and Violence Mitigation” project, specifically targeting goals related to disaster preparedness and reducing violence against women and girls in the Western Area of Sierra Leone.
Eliza Sillah, Program Manager at Caritas Freetown, highlighted the importance of the training during the closing ceremony, stating, “The aim is to empower these women and enhance their ability to influence governance processes, contributing to a society where women’s voices are heard, their rights are respected and violence is minimized.” She emphasized the connection between leadership empowerment and reducing violence against women, noting that empowering women can lead to a more equitable and safer society.
Andrew Konneh, Project Supervisor at Caritas Freetown, further explained the motivation behind the training. “We discovered that women had limited space in decision-making, governance and leadership roles. Initially, we engaged these women to increase their voices within their households and communities. With the support of our donor partner we expanded our intervention to include leadership training,” he stated. The Project Supervisor also revealed that the project had been awarded a 10-month grant, running from March to December 2024, allowing them to strengthen their efforts to amplify women’s voices not only at the community level but also at the district level.
The Ministry of Gender, represented at the event, commended Caritas Freetown for their efforts, acknowledging that the training complemented the Ministry’s own mission of empowering women and girls across Sierra Leone.
Participants expressed their gratitude for the training, with Mariama Kamara, Chairlady of the Rogbangba Hastings Community, sharing how the program had helped them develop leadership qualities and boosted their confidence. “Before this training, we lacked the courage to contest against our male counterparts. Now, we’ve been taught how to be bold and fearless leaders,” she stated.
Another participant, Mabinty Mansaray, praised the inclusivity of the program, noting that young women were not left out. “We benefited a lot from this training and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow,” she added.
The leadership training marks a crucial step toward ensuring that women in Sierra Leone have the knowledge and confidence to participate in governance and leadership, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.
