By Foday Moriba Conteh
In commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, Moving Women for Sustainable Development Sierra Leone (MoWSuD-SL), with support from the Embassy of Ireland in Sierra Leone, has launched a transformative project aimed at empowering girls to combat online abuse and lead digital safety initiatives across the country.
The project, titled: “From Victims to Leaders: Girls Building Digital Resilience,” was officially unveiled on Saturday, 11th October 2025, in Kenema. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and seeks to amplify girls’ leadership, promote digital inclusion and foster resilience against online harassment.
In her keynote address, Mariama Khai Fornah, Executive Director of MoWSuD-SL, highlighted the growing risks faced by girls in digital spaces and the urgent need for empowerment and protection.
“Girls are not just passive recipients of digital risks; they are powerful agents of change,” she said. “This project seeks to elevate their voices from victims to leaders, building resilience and dignity in the digital world.”
The initiative focuses on equipping 100 girls both in-school and out-of-school with training in digital literacy, leadership and advocacy. Ten of these participants will become Digital Champions, serving as peer educators and role models within their communities.
Recognizing the challenges of cyberbullying, online harassment and exploitation, particularly for girls in rural and underserved areas, the project will provide safe storytelling spaces and mentorship platforms where girls can share experiences, develop coping strategies and champion digital rights.
Community engagement forms a key part of the initiative, involving parents, teachers and local authorities through forums and dialogues to promote shared responsibility in protecting girls online. The campaign’s social media drive, #TheGirlIAmChangeILead, will further amplify girls’ voices and stories nationwide.
The project rollout includes four key phases:
- Girls’ Digital Leadership Day: Featuring workshops, storytelling and drama sessions to promote girl-led participation.
- Digital Boot Camps: Strengthening understanding of safe online practices and leadership skills.
- Advocacy Campaigns: Held during global observances like the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
- Community Dialogues and the Digital Dignity Charter: Culminating in a roundtable where girls will present policy recommendations to enhance digital safety and inclusion.
Speaking at the event, Joseph Ayamga, Country Director of SEND-SL, commended the initiative as a vital step toward empowering the next generation.
“Young people often ask what they can be in the future. Programs like this ensure that for Sierra Leonean girls, the answer is filled with hope, strength and leadership,” he said.
Prince Mansaray, representing Civil Society Organizations, emphasized the need for collective responsibility in empowering girls to become leaders. He encouraged parents and guardians to nurture girls’ talents and support their academic pursuits.
Sowo Brima of the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union underscored the importance of investing in girls’ education and inclusion, noting that “when girls are empowered, families and societies thrive.”
Similarly, Mustapha Konneh from the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police called on communities to break stereotypes and protect girls from digital and physical harm.
“When you empower the girl child, they can do better. Our children are our future, so let us ensure they are well placed,” he concluded.
As the event came to a close, Mariama Khai Fornah reaffirmed MoWSuD-SL’s commitment to sustaining the project through mentorship networks, partnerships with child protection agencies and Girls’ Digital Sisterhood Circles to ensure long-term impact.
“This is more than a campaign, it’s a movement,” she declared. “When we invest in girls’ digital resilience, we build a stronger, more inclusive Sierra Leone where every girl can confidently say: I lead. I protect. I change.”
With this bold initiative, Sierra Leone takes a significant step toward creating a safer and more equitable digital landscape ;one where girls are not only protected but empowered to lead the change.
