World Humanitarian Day: Get to know One Village Partners’ Country Director

Every day, across some of the most remote corners of Sierra Leone, One Village Partners' staff are doing something extraordinary. They aren’t just delivering training sessions or facilitating meetings, they're building trust, igniting leadership, and nurturing change. This World Humanitarian Day, we honor them not only as employees, but as local humanitarians deeply rooted in the communities they serve.

Today we highlight our new Country Director, Aminata Kamara.

What are you most looking forward to as you begin your role as Country Director?

As I begin my role as Country Director, I’m most looking forward to deepening partnerships with the communities we serve, our donors, and the incredible team at One Village Partners. I’m eager to listen deeply and reflect on how we continue to engage with rural communities, accompanying and resourcing them in ways that lead to transformational and lasting change.

I’m especially excited to support and amplify the leadership of rural communities as they define “development” on their terms, shaping the accompaniment model that reflects the realities of rural communities and which meet them at the point of their organizing and uphold that leadership with care and respect.

What drew you to One Village Partners?

I was drawn to One Village Partners due to its commitment to community-led development, and because of how that commitment is lived out; through care, respect, and a human-centered, transformational approach. It aligns deeply with my own values and vision for development that centers people, not projects; relationships, not transactions.

What stood out most is the way OVP partners with and accompanies communities, not assuming and imposing solutions, but amplifying the voices, wisdom, and leadership already present. It reflects a shared mantra I hold close: that sustainable change begins within communities themselves, and our role as practitioners is to support, trust, and invest in their leadership.

If you could have dinner with any famous figure, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would love to have dinner with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She is the first African feminist, writer, who made feminism truly relatable for me. Through her work, I began to reflect more deeply on my environment and better understand how patriarchy operates; and how we sometimes unknowingly reinforce systems of oppression through biased behaviors and enforcing stereotypes. Chimamanda’s writings made me revisit my childhood and recognize that I had embraced feminist values long before I ever identified as a “feminist”.

I would love to hear her thoughts on what it means to maintain an African and cultural perspective within a global feminist movement that often lacks strong African representation. I’d love to understand what inspires her bold and unapologetic advocacy for African feminism, and how she navigates the intersection between cultural identity and global gender politics. Most of all, I would like to ask what gives her the courage to keep living and speaking her truth with such strength and clarity, especially in times as complex and challenging as these.

What’s one fun or surprising fact about you?

One fun and slightly surprising fact about me is that I’m often the life of the party; for about an hour. I’ll kick things off with full energy, dancing, singing, and bringing all the vibes. But after that, my energy quickly deflates, and I’m usually ready to head home. I love being around people I care about, but I’m definitely not a fan of late nights out.

I like to think of myself as the embodiment of the phrase “joy in the face of crisis.” No matter the storm, you’ll find me dancing through it, drawing strength, hope, and courage from the lyrics of whatever song is playing at the moment.

What does a typical weekend look like for you?

A typical weekend is fun and relaxing with my daughters. We might watch a movie together, read a book, or join in on popular TikTok trends; lip syncing and dancing just for fun 🙂. It’s our way of unwinding and creating special memories.

Some weekends, we head outdoors to a playground where the girls enjoy themselves while I catch up with my sister-friend. Nothing beats those simple, joyful moments. We usually end the weekend with Sunday service at our church, where we've built a strong sense of community over the years. Afterwards, we often go for a lunch date, a small tradition that helps us reset and get ready for the week ahead.

What have you been observing, listening for, or learning so far?

I’ve frequently heard team members at OVP speak with deep conviction about why they work with communities. Many have shared how the organization’s model not only resonates with their personal values and stories, but also aligns with their deeper sense of purpose. Words like partnership, collaboration, humility, and respect consistently emerge as guiding principles in how colleagues approach their work.

I’ve also seen these values in action within communities, shaping program design, informing implementation, and reinforcing our ongoing commitment to rural communities. This has remained true even in the face of shrinking resources and an increasingly restricted civic space. It’s especially evident in programs centered on community-led development like our Nurturing Opportunities for Women program, Leadership  engagement and development program and the Community Action Program. 

While there is a strong sense of pride in OVP’s community-led model, which rightly centers the autonomy and leadership of rural communities, I’ve also observed the team navigating a difficult tension: the need to meet the evolving expectations of a new donor base while staying true to the priorities and realities of the communities we serve. The reality is clear, transformational work with rural communities isn’t possible without adequate, flexible, and long-term funding and resources. The pressure this creates is both visible and understandable.

What message do you have for our donors and supporters?

To our donors and supporters; thank you. Your commitment makes it possible to drive real and lasting change in rural communities, allowing transformational work not only to exist but to thrive. At One Village Partners, we don’t simply implement programs; we partner with and accompany communities as they define and lead their own development journeys. That kind of work requires trust, patience, and deep investment, not just of resources, but of belief in people.

Your support is a powerful affirmation that community-led development matters, that we can invest not only in survival, but in the opportunities for rural communities to thrive beyond grants and programs. It affirms that rural communities are not only deserving of investment but are essential leaders and partners in creating lasting change.

I invite you to continue walking with us, remaining curious, open, and bold in your support for models that center the dignity, agency, and equity of rural communities in Sierra Leone.

Thank you for being part of this shared vision.