By Mackie M. Jalloh
Fourah Bay, Freetown – In the winding streets of historic Fourah Bay, a quiet revolution is stirring — not through protests or political campaigns, but through the power of youth-led initiatives. Across Sierra Leone, young people face high unemployment, limited educational opportunities, and systemic marginalization, leaving many vulnerable to crime, substance abuse, and despair. Yet, in this iconic community, the Brotherhood Organization is redefining what it means to empower youth, using engagement, mentorship, and leadership training as tools to reshape the nation’s future.
On Sunday, September 7, 2025, the Fourah Bay Youth Forum, hosted at the Laura Dove School on Dan Street, will gather dozens of young leaders under the theme “Transforming Youths for National Development.” Far from a symbolic gathering, this forum represents a deliberate, strategic effort to address Sierra Leone’s long-standing youth crisis, turning potential into tangible progress.
“Too often, young people are seen as a problem to fix. Here, we see them as solutions waiting to be unleashed,” said a member of the organizing team. “This is about activating skills, purpose, and vision for a brighter future.”
Unlike conventional youth programs, the Fourah Bay Forum emphasizes action over rhetoric. It combines immersive workshops, practical training sessions, and mentorship opportunities that directly address the challenges young people face daily.
Core Focus Areas Include:
🔹 Life Skills and Employability – Participants will gain hands-on training in leadership, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving, equipping them with skills to navigate Sierra Leone’s competitive job market.
🔹 Identity and Confidence Building – Sessions will help youth reclaim pride in their heritage, build self-esteem, and cultivate resilience in the face of societal pressures.
🔹 Civic Engagement and Leadership – Young people will learn how to engage in policy discussions, advocate for community interests, and participate meaningfully in democratic processes.
🔹 Education and Opportunity Access – Through collaboration with NGOs, training institutions, and scholarship programs, attendees will discover avenues for entrepreneurship, vocational training, and further education.
🔹 Mentorship and Role Models – Pairings with experienced leaders, business professionals, and community figures aim to provide guidance, networks, and long-term accountability.
🔹 Community Development – Interactive activities focus on building safer, cleaner, and more connected neighborhoods, instilling the principle that leadership starts with service.
What sets the Brotherhood Organization apart is its deep community grounding. For years, the group has organized local tutoring programs, environmental clean-ups, dispute mediation, and faith-based initiatives, earning credibility and trust in Fourah Bay. The Youth Forum extends this trust into a national model for sustainable youth engagement.
Importantly, the forum bridges generations. Elders participate not as overseers, but as knowledge bearers, teaching values of integrity, discipline, and perseverance that are vital for long-term societal growth. “It’s not just youth talking to youth,” noted one community elder. “It’s the transfer of wisdom, experience, and responsibility.”
The Forum also resonates with continental and global agendas. It aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, emphasizing youth empowerment as a lever for sustainable development, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly quality education, decent work, and strong institutions.
Community involvement has been remarkable. Local mosques, schools, businesses, and even transport unions have mobilized to ensure the forum’s success. WhatsApp groups are buzzing, radio jingles are airing, and the energy in Fourah Bay is palpable.
Looking beyond the one-day event, the Brotherhood Organization plans to establish a permanent Youth Resource Hub in Fourah Bay. This center will offer mentorship, digital literacy, career guidance, and leadership programs year-round. Discussions are underway to include virtual mentorship from the Sierra Leonean diaspora, providing global perspectives to local youth.
The Fourah Bay Youth Forum demonstrates that real transformation begins at the grassroots level. When young people are given purpose, mentorship, and tools, they become catalysts for community, economic, and national progress.
In Fourah Bay, hope is no longer a distant aspiration — it is a rising force. And with the empowerment of youth at its core, Sierra Leone’s future is poised not just to grow, but to soar.
