By Ibrahim John Sesay
The Girls’ In STEM Initiative Sierra Leone, with support from Irish Aid through the Ireland Embassy in Sierra Leone, has launched a six-month Community Action Project aimed at addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), teenage pregnancy and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through livelihood empowerment.
The official launch ceremony was held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Masantigie Community Centre in Waterloo, Western Area Rural District. The event attracted representatives from Government institutions, community leaders, women’s groups, persons with disabilities, youth representatives and other stakeholders.
The project, which will run from February to July 2026, targets three vulnerable communities, Matainkay, Masorie and Masantigie, where cases of SGBV, teenage pregnancy and FGM remain prevalent. A total of 60 beneficiaries, including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), will be selected to participate in the programme, ensuring inclusivity and equal opportunity for marginalized groups.
In her opening remarks, the Project Coordinator and Executive Director of Girls’ In STEM Initiative Sierra Leone, Madam Christiana M. Bangura, said the initiative seeks to go beyond awareness-raising by providing practical economic alternatives for women and girls.
She emphasized that economic vulnerability often exposes women and girls to abuse and harmful traditional practices, making livelihood empowerment a strategic intervention in the fight against SGBV, teenage pregnancy and FGM.
“We are trying to put an end to all forms of violence against women and girls and provide alternative livelihood schemes to support women who are surviving through harmful practices like FGM,” Madam Christiana M. Bangura stated. “When women are engaged in learning livelihood skills they can support themselves and move away from harmful practices.”
She disclosed that during the six-month training period, beneficiaries will acquire vocational and entrepreneurial skills such as cake baking, gara tie-dye production, handcraft production, decoration, catering services and the production of reusable sanitary pads.
In addition to technical skills training, participants will receive entrepreneurship development training covering business management, financial literacy and marketing to enable them to establish and sustain income-generating ventures.
Madam Christiana M. Bangura further noted that sessions on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and the Sexual Offences Act will be conducted to educate beneficiaries on their legal rights, available protection mechanisms and the importance of reporting abuse.
At the end of the training, beneficiaries will receive start-up capital to support the establishment of small businesses, ensuring practical application of the skills acquired and promoting long-term economic independence.
The Assistant Director at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs for the Western Area Rural District, Foday Mohamed Sesay, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that complements the Government’s national strategy to protect women and children from abuse and exploitation.
He explained the concept of FGM and Gender-Based Violence to community members, outlining the various forms of abuse and urging women and girls to report cases to the appropriate authorities.
Speaking to The Calabash Newspaper, Foday Mohamed Sesay described the initiative as laudable and beneficial to young women and girls.
“With the skills they are going to learn, they will be better positioned to enhance their knowledge, empower themselves and promote gender equality,” he said.
On behalf of the host community, the Deputy Headman of Masantigie Community, Rashidu Bangura, pledged full cooperation from local authorities and residents. He acknowledged that FGM and teenage pregnancy remain serious concerns in the selected communities and expressed optimism that the project would help reduce such harmful practices.
“We are grateful for this opportunity, which will bring real change to the lives of our women and girls,” he stated. “As community authorities, we are committed to supporting this project fully.”
Women and girls from surrounding communities attended the launch in large numbers, demonstrating strong interest and support for the initiative.
One of the participants, Isatu T. Koroma, expressed optimism that the training would transform their lives and reduce economic hardship.
“This training will help us learn valuable skills and become self-reliant. It will also teach us how to protect ourselves and speak out against abuse,” she said.
The Community Action Project underscores the importance of education, economic empowerment and community engagement in tackling deeply rooted socio-cultural challenges and building a safer, more equitable society for women and girls in Sierra Leone.
