The Hands that Lead: Stories of Work, Care, and Change
Across Sierra Leone, community members are leading change that transforms daily lives—constructing latrines, schools, clinics, and clean water systems, and nurturing one another through teaching, farming, celebration, and care. The Hands That Lead campaign honors this everyday leadership and the people who strengthen and champion their communities.
The Hands That Lead by Working Together
Kadie Katta speaking at the Nianahun handover ceremony
The community of Nianahun knows that progress happens when they unite around key priorities that contribute to their collective well-being. In 2021, the community voted to rehabilitate their Maternal and Child Health Clinic to better serve pregnant women and children. They also expanded the clinic to accommodate nearly 10,000 more people. As a part of the expansion, they improved water, sanitation facilities, and energy by installing solar panels. Since construction was completed in 2023, pregnant women have felt more confident, knowing they have a safer place to give birth and receive care.
As a community member, Kadie Katta shared during the clinic’s handover ceremony, “We should support one another to meet our goal.” From improving access to healthcare to maintaining shared projects, the people of Nianahun show that collective strength is what keeps communities moving forward, hand in hand.
The Hands That Lead by Building for the Future
Constructing Gbeka’s Traning Center
The community of Gbeka is a strong example of how to invest in the future. They created a Training Center to empower their youth by offering academic lessons as well as skills training services such as tailoring, soap-making, and machinery operation. The Training Center promotes adult literacy and the education of their children while also providing opportunities and skills for young adults, parents, and the wider community.
This unique project creates a pathway for the next generation to thrive and fosters a culture of continuous learning and personal development. Gbeka’s forward-thinking approach invests in training for long-term prosperity.
The Hands That Lead by Farming
Food insecurity remains one of the biggest challenges faced by rural communities, particularly women who constitute 70% of the agricultural labor force, according to the World Food Program. As a result of their participation in the Nurturing Opportunity for Women (NOW) program, women are strengthening their local economies.
Massah Morie, a NOW: Agribusiness graduate in Makka, shared, “NOW: Agribusiness has taught me how to farm; invest in cassava and rice swamp farming, and how to cultivate and store our rice to benefit us.”
Through her growing business, Massah can provide for herself and her family. She can also provide financial loans to members of her community during hard times. With the skills and confidence gained through the NOW program, women like Massah are strengthening food security and building thriving local economies.
NOW: Agribusiness farmers in Yandohun
The Hands That Lead by Improving Hygienic Practice
Recently, the community of Nikabu celebrated the completion of 17 latrine structures within the course of one year, in partnership with One Village Partners. The handover ceremony marked a milestone in the development journey of the community. These new facilities will significantly decrease open defecation, reduce the spread of diseases, and enhance the well-being of Nikabu’s 1,350 community members.
When communities have a feeling of ownership of their projects, they are energized to maintain and sustain them for years to come!
The Hands That Lead with Collective Action
Community members celebrate clean water at Kambama’s handover ceremony
Collective action is what defines leadership across all our partner communities. This power of ‘Ngo-yea’ (solidarity in Mende language) comes to life in Kambama. Their solar-powered gravity water system is a testament to the power of collective action.
In 2021, 12 men and women volunteer-leaders were trained by One Village Partners on the skills to plan, manage, and monitor a water system. Using a solar-powered energy solution, the water is pumped from a nearby reservoir into centrally located tanks, which are easily and freely accessible to everyone in the community.
Additionally, the volunteer-leaders of Kambama formed a Water Management Committee composed of community members. The committee provides training that allows the community to maintain the water system, ensuring its sustainability for years to come. The committee also went the extra mile to provide education to local households on good hygiene practices, including how to safely store drinking water to prevent water contamination and the spread of diseases. Their innovative project has changed lives and will continue to lead Kambama into a healthier future!
The Hands That Lead by Celebrating
Celebrating shared achievements is an essential component of the work that One Village Partners does in partnership with Sierra Leonean communities. In the Nurturing Opportunity for Women (NOW) program, there’s always lots of dancing and celebration in sessions and at the graduation ceremonies!
Hawa Saffa, a NOW participant in Ngolahun, said, “My savings culture has helped me solve my family problems, including my children’s welfare and educational needs. I am now confident to run a business successfully with the new skills I have acquired from the NOW learning.”
Nianahun NOW participants dancing during a class session
What a powerful change worth celebrating! When women gain increased capacity in business skills, their confidence in household and financial management boosts, leading their communities into positive transformation.
From clinics and schools to clean water, thriving businesses, and community celebrations—your gift empowers Sierra Leonean communities to lead change and build a brighter future, hand in hand. Will you support the life-changing work of communities today?