By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a well-attended ceremony held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, the family of the late Ishmael Byne Taylor-Kamara officially launched the Ishmael Byne Taylor-Kamara Foundation. The Foundation aims to empower youth and uplift communities across Sierra Leone, reflecting the late statesman’s lifelong dedication to education, community service and youth development.
The late Ishmael Byne Taylor-Kamara, who passed away 51 years ago, was a British-trained lawyer, civil servant and diplomat. He served as a Senior Minister in Sierra Leone’s first cabinet, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, President of the UN Security Council in 1971 and Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Canada.
During the launch, Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallor, CEO of the Foundation, described the initiative as a dynamic and impact-driven organization committed to empowering communities, advancing sustainable development and promoting social change. She highlighted its focus on women’s empowerment, youth leadership, education, climate action and entrepreneurship, with the overall goal of building resilient communities in Sierra Leone and beyond.
“Our father firmly believed that empowering the next generation is crucial for the development of a stronger, more resilient society,” she stated. “Following his passing, our family recognized the need to continue the work he so passionately pursued.”
Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallor disclosed that the Foundation’s programs will include educational scholarships and mentorship opportunities designed to help young people develop the skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive world.
She also highlighted the Foundation’s flagship initiative, the SheRises Project, an ambitious women’s empowerment program that provides economic assistance and mentorship to women entrepreneurs and supports university students. The project aims to empower at least 500 women through intensive entrepreneurship training, offer direct investment in 50 small women-led businesses and promote economic independence.
The SheRises Project is currently being expanded to other African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya and additional West African nations.
Ishmael Taylor-Kamara, son of the late statesman, remarked that the Foundation is not only a tribute to their father’s legacy but also a vehicle for real, transformative impact. “We are not just remembering our father; we are taking actionable steps to ensure that his dreams of a better future for Sierra Leonean youth live on,” he said.
Several beneficiaries of the SheRises Project, including Zainab Kamara, a pepper, groundnut and rice farmer; Tity Kargbo, a seamstress; Zainab Konneh, a makeup artist and Snowsha Mariatu Taylor-Kamara, a university student, shared heartfelt testimonies about how the project has transformed their lives and expressed deep gratitude to the Foundation.
Closing the ceremony, Lois Sarah Taylor-Kamara, the 90-year-old widow of Ishmael Byne Taylor-Kamara, expressed joy and pride at seeing her children honor their father’s legacy through such a meaningful initiative. She encouraged young people and beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunities provided by the Foundation.
