Bringing Skills, Hope, and Opportunity to Sierra Leone’s Youth

In Sierra Leone, many graduating students return to village life with few options beyond survival. Their days are consumed with hard, unrelenting labor—gathering firewood, fetching water, tending small gardens, cooking meals, and caring for children and elderly relatives. Despite their education, opportunities to grow, earn an income, or build a career are nearly nonexistent.

When I arrived in Sierra Leone and began teaching sewing at Rokassa High School, the response was overwhelming. Students lit up with excitement at the chance to learn a practical, income-generating skill. We had more eager learners than we could accommodate in our training sessions. This hunger to learn and build a better future was palpable—and deeply moving.

Many of these students simply cannot afford to attend university, and even for those who do, the country’s extremely high unemployment rate for graduates offers little hope. Vocational training is not just an alternative—it is a lifeline. It’s a direct path to empowerment, dignity, and sustainability in a country still recovering and rebuilding.

Alongside sewing, I also introduced cord knotting for making bracelets, bags, and belts. The students were enthusiastic and deeply grateful—not just for the skills, but for the vision these new abilities gave them. We spoke often about the new doors opening for them: the ability to start a small business, support their families, and contribute to their communities.

Building a Center for Lasting Change

Inspired by this overwhelming interest and the pressing need, I am now developing a vocational training center in Sierra Leone. The center will focus on practical, in-demand skills such as:

• Sewing and tailoring

• Small business and entrepreneurship

• Production of washable, reusable feminine hygiene products

Sewing is consistently one of the most viable and valued business skills in this region. That’s why it’s at the top of our list. But one of the most impactful additions to our training is the production of reusable sanitary pads.

In many villages, girls miss school for days each month due to a lack of menstrual supplies. This simple issue is a powerful barrier to education, dignity, and opportunity. By teaching girls how to make reusable pads, we not only meet a critical health and hygiene need—we also create a product they can manufacture and sell, opening yet another door for small business ventures.

In fact, Rokassa High School has already requested a production initiative. They want to purchase pads directly for their students so no girl has to miss class. This is just one example of how our training can meet urgent community needs while creating sustainable income streams.

A Future Fueled by Empowerment

The response from the students, the school, and the community is clear: this work matters. They are eager for more training, more tools, and more opportunities to shape their own futures.

This is more than skill-building. It’s about restoring hope, opening paths, and honoring the dignity of young people who deserve a chance to succeed.

Your support will help us build the center, provide essential materials, and expand this training to reach even more students. Together, we can turn untapped potential into thriving futures.

Let’s light the path—one skill, one student, one future at a time.