In Kalangba, a rural community in Sierra Leone, many adolescent girls face limited opportunities after completing secondary school. Isha S. Kanu, an 18-year old girl, had completed her West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), but like many of her peers, she found herself at home with no access to further education, skills training or employment. With few prospects and no structured support, Isha’s potential was at risk of being wasted. This situation reveals a broader national challenge as thousands of girls in Sierra Leone drop out of school or remain unemployed after completing basic or secondary education, particularly in underserved rural communities. Without targeted interventions, these girls are often left vulnerable to early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and economic dependency, which undermine the country’s efforts toward gender equality, youth empowerment, and sustainable development.
Change was on the horizon when news began to spread about the Power Up Project, an initiative designed to empower marginalised girls through education, life skills, and vocational training. For Isha and many others, this marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope and opportunity. Restless Development, through the Power Up Project, reached the Kalangba community in Bombali District with a mission to identify and support out-of school adolescent girls. The project aimed to empower marginalised girls with essential life skills, basic literacy and numeracy, and practical knowledge that would enable them to make informed life choices. During the initial phase, Restless Development’s community outreach team conducted a household mapping exercise to identify girls who were out of school and at risk of being left behind.
Among those they met was Isha S. Kanu, an 18-year-old who had completed her West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) but remained idle at home, unsure of her next steps. At first, Isha was hesitant. She questioned what more she could learn, having already completed secondary school. However, after speaking with the team and understanding the broader scope of the program, she agreed to register. She was enrolled in a local “safe space”, a girl-friendly learning environment established by the project where trained mentors delivered sessions on life skills, self-confidence, communication, financial literacy, and reproductive health, among others.
Through consistent participation at the safe space, Isha began to develop a renewed sense of purpose. She reported learning practical skills that were not covered in school, such as setting personal goals, understanding her rights, and making informed decisions about her future. The safe space became more than a learning center; it became a community of support and growth. What makes this intervention stand out is its holistic and inclusive approach. Unlike traditional education programs that focus solely on academics, the Power Up Project addresses the real-life challenges faced by girls like Isha combining psychosocial support, foundational skills, and community engagement. Isha’s journey, through the Power Up Project marked a profound transformation not just for her, but for her entire community.
Through consistent participation in safe space activities, Isha developed confidence, communication skills, and a deepened sense of responsibility. One of the most noticeable changes was in her attitude and behaviour. Previously quiet and reserved, Isha learned how to engage respectfully and confidently with elders and other members of her community. She began to see herself not just as a beneficiary, but as a role model. Empowered by the knowledge and skills she gained, Isha took the initiative to give back. With the support of the project team and community leaders, she began volunteering as a community teacher providing basic literacy support, other subjects and mentoring other adolescent girls who, like her, once felt unsure of their future. Her commitment to helping others reflects a shift from dependence to leadership.
Today, Isha is recognised as a trusted peer educator and a positive influence among girls in Kalangba. Her story demonstrates the power of investing in adolescent girls not only changes individual lives, but also builds stronger, more resilient communities. The change brought about by the Power Up Project goes beyond knowledge acquisition as it fosters self-worth, leadership, and community participation. In Isha’s case, it transformed a girl once idle at home into a confident young leader shaping the lives of others. Isha’s role as a community teacher and peer mentor positions her as a youth champion who can continue to inspire and guide other girls.
