By Mackie M. Jalloh
In a renewed effort to champion girls’ education and community empowerment, the Cline Town Educational Organization, in collaboration with the Save Girls’ Education Initiative, hosted a life-changing hygiene and empowerment workshop on Saturday, 29th November 2025, at the Bishop Crowther School compound in Freetown. The event marked a significant expansion of the organization’s mission to break long-standing educational barriers affecting girls in low-income communities.
Held under the theme “Empowering Her Future, Strengthening Our Community,” the workshop brought together 70 vulnerable girls between the ages of 9 and 16 for a full day of support sessions, mentorship activities, and a major distribution of essential hygiene supplies. Each participant received a one-year package of sanitary pads, soap, deodorant, exercise books, and educational materials. Parents also benefited through small cash support transfers designed to ease school-related financial pressures.
The atmosphere during the event was energetic and hopeful as students, community representatives, teachers, and volunteers gathered to witness what organizers described as “the beginning of a long-term, community-driven support system for girls.”
Valentina R.D. Oubee, Program Coordinator for the Save Girls’ Education Initiative, set the tone for the event with a motivational address focusing on the importance of consistent mentorship and family involvement. “Supporting a girl child is not a one-time act,” she said. “It is a continuous responsibility that requires all of us—parents, schools, and community groups—to walk alongside her. Today’s workshop is meant to remind every girl here that she is seen, valued, and worthy of every opportunity education can offer.”
She noted that the project will run for an entire year, including monthly sensitization meetings where students and parents will explore key topics such as menstrual hygiene, personal discipline, self-esteem, and the importance of staying in school.
Yasin Bah, CEO of the Cline Town Educational Organization, spoke about the broader vision that has guided his team’s work for years. Unlike previous speeches, he shifted focus from traditional advocacy toward community transformation. “This is more than educational support,” he declared. “We are rewriting stories—stories of girls who once felt forgotten, who doubted their future, but who now stand with confidence because a community decided to believe in them.”
He described the initiative as part of his commitment to ensuring that no girl in Cline Town is forced out of school because of poverty, family loss, or lack of hygiene materials.
Among the most emotional testimonies was that of Haja Fatmata Koroma, an SSS4 student at the Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG), who has been supported by Yasin Bah since her primary school days. With tears in her eyes, she expressed heartfelt gratitude as she recalled her journey.
“When my father died, everything became difficult. My mother struggled alone, and sometimes even feeding us was hard,” she said. “I thought my education would end, but Uncle Yasin came into our lives like a blessing. He bought my books, paid my fees, and encouraged me to keep dreaming. Today, I am in SSS4 because he refused to let me give up. I pray God continues to bless him and this project.”
Another beneficiary, Aminata, a Class 6 pupil, shared her excitement about receiving hygiene products for the first time as part of a structured program. “I feel happy because now I don’t have to miss school when I’m on my period,” she said shyly. “I want to become a nurse one day, and this support makes me feel like it is possible.”
Throughout the event, facilitators led interactive sessions on confidence building, bullying prevention, safe spaces for girls, and the value of prioritizing education. Teachers in attendance expressed admiration for the project, describing it as one of the most impactful initiatives the community has seen in recent years.
As the workshop concluded, organizers reaffirmed their commitment to monitoring the progress of all 70 beneficiaries, expanding into nearby communities, and building stronger partnerships to ensure the sustainability of the project.
In Cline Town, the message was clear: when a girl is empowered, an entire community rises with her.
