By Alieu Amara Suwu
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MOYA) launched an innovative challenge to support young female leaders in Sierra Leone.
The launch was held at Family Kingdom Hall on October 14, 2024, where 300 women applied for training and only 40 were accepted to do the training. Out of the 40, the best 25 were going to be selected for funding to implement their project ideas.
Nadia Rasheed, Country Representative, UNFPA-Sierra Leone, disclosed that she was excited over the initiative. She said that the Innovative Challenge will focus on women’s innovation and women’s solidarity and will as well make life better for women, for that was why they invited applications from women-led groups.
The UNFPA Country Rep revealed that she was impressed by the quality of the 300 applications that were initially received, adding that the 300 applications were scrutinized, after which the judges selected the best 40.
“I urge you all to build on your skills, refine your ideas, network among each other, create and mentor each other, and create a future that we want to see,” she motivated them.
Rasheed also encouraged those that will not be fortunate to make it to the final stage (for which the best 25 will be selected) not to discourage, but said that they still have a lot to do in society.
Mohamed Orman Bangura, the Minister of Youth Affairs, expressed gratitude and congratulated all the 40 participants in the training. He went on to encourage them to keep their heads up and to focus on goals because that is going to improve their lives.
He also mentioned that in his ministry he has been engaging in program implementation, but this time around they want young girls to take the lead and implement programs because they know best what is good for them.
“The women problem should be solved by women because they are the ones that know what is affecting them,” said Minister Bangura.
Bangura apologized to the girls of Maboraka and Kambia for the incident that happened and promised them of government commitment to solve the problem. He also assured the 40 girls that for as long as their names are on the data, they should be rest assured that they are going to improve their ideas.
He promised them that he would do his best to make sure that the World Bank and European Union provide funds for them to implement their project. He said that the government has been working very hard to promote girls and women’s empowerment, saying that they have all seen how the First Lady has been awarded as a girls champion in New York.
The Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, remarked that the innovative ideas bring hope and comfort. Minister Bangura said that he was particularly pleased that the women-led groups will be implementing their own ideas.
The Youth Minister assured that he will continue to engage with international partners, such as the World Bank and the EU, to support the women. “Please engage communities if you are selected, and I urge you to make judicious use of social media to influence change in society.
