Empowering Young People, Transforming Communities

LEAD Sierra Leone is a youth-led, impact-driven nonprofit organization empowering communities across Sierra Leone through advocacy, youth leadership, innovation, and grassroots engagement.

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In the News

We’ve launched our second cohort of the Community Innovation Hub free vocational training, welcoming 100 youth from underserved communities in Makeni. Building on the success of our first cohort, which graduated 55+ trainees in June 2025, the program continues to offer hands-on skills in Fashion Design, Arts & Crafts, Cake Making, and Computer Literacy, alongside leadership and entrepreneurship training to promote self-reliance and entreprenuership.

Full Report

July 5, 2025

2024 Annual Reports

We’ve launched our second cohort of the Community Innovation Hub free vocational training, welcoming 100 youth from underserved communities in Makeni.

Who We Are

LEAD Sierra Leone (Leading Effective Action for Development) is a youth-led nonprofit organization founded in 2021 to address systemic barriers facing marginalized youth and communities. We work at the intersection of youth empowerment, education, health, environmental sustainability, and community development. Through advocacy, skills-building, and grassroots engagement, we equip young people with the tools and opportunities to lead positive, community-driven change across Sierra Leone.

Our Mission

To empower people and transform communities through advocacy, youth empowerment, and community engagement.

Our Vision

A Sierra Leone where every young person has the skills, knowledge, and opportunity to drive community-led development and attain sustainable livelihoods.

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Our Areas of Work

Economic insecurity continues to limit the potential of Sierra Leone’s youth, especially those in underserved and marginalized communities. With limited access to formal employment, many young people struggle to build stable livelihoods.

At LEAD Sierra Leone, we tackle these barriers through vocational training and entrepreneurship development. Our Community Innovation Hub (CIH) provides free hands-on courses in Fashion Design, Cake Making, Arts & Crafts, and Computer Literacy, helping youth—especially women—gain the practical skills they need to start small businesses or secure jobs.

We partnered with CASE Salone through the Social Equity Project (SEP), funded by the Z Zurich Foundation, to deliver an intensive entrepreneurship bootcamp and mentorship for 145 youth aged 16–24 in Makeni, fostering economic self-reliance and inclusive growth.

Economic Empowerment

What We Do

Education for Equity

Education is a cornerstone of community transformation and sustainable development. Yet, many young people in Sierra Leone still face barriers to quality learning and critical thinking opportunities.

LEAD Sierra Leone addresses these gaps through youth-centered programs that spark growth and leadership. Our Global Opportunity Pathways Webinars provide nationwide training in proposal writing, scholarship access, and career development.

We also host the annual Intersecondary School Debating Competition, enhancing students' public speaking, research, and teamwork skills. Together, these initiatives empower youth beyond the classroom—fostering confidence, creativity, and a drive for change.

Health disparities, substance abuse, and poor sanitation continue to impact vulnerable communities across Sierra Leone. Young people, in particular, face increasing challenges with mental health, addiction, and access to essential services.

Our Youth Mental Health Matters project leads community campaigns, school outreach, and personalized counseling focused on substance abuse, emotional well-being, and stigma reduction.

Through our Youth in Action for Public Sanitation (YAPS) campaign, we also engage students and volunteers in improving hygiene and cleanliness in public health facilities. These initiatives reflect our belief that health is more than the absence of disease—it is about dignity, awareness, and access to services that support a thriving life.

Health & Well-being

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental degradation, particularly due to mining, is threatening ecosystems and livelihoods across Sierra Leone. At LEAD Sierra Leone, we believe that environmental action starts with community awareness, climate-smart agriculture, and youth engagement.

Our flagship Teach for Climate program brings climate education to schools, builds Climate Clubs, and empowers young people to advocate for local environmental solutions. We’ve trained students, educators, and local leaders in sustainable practices, advocacy, and restoration efforts.

Through the Community Engagement for Freshwater Restoration project—supported by National Geographic and The Nature Conservancy—we mobilize communities affected by mining to protect and restore water resources. With climate justice as a core value, our work promotes environmental resilience from the ground up.