Who would have ever thought a day would come when I would think of pursuing a science related discipline ?
-Umu
Moyamba Town, the capital of Moyamba District in Southern Sierra Leone, has over 11,000 residents. Adolescent girls in the area face socio-economic barriers like poverty, limited quality education, harmful gender norms, and restricted access to information and resources, leading to low confidence, reduced aspirations, and limited opportunities.
For Umu Bah, a Senior Secondary School (SSS 3) student at St. Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School, these barriers manifested most strongly through fear, particularly a paralysing anxiety toward Mathematics. Umu dreamed of becoming a Nurse, but persistent anxiety around Mathematics, reinforced by societal myths that Science and Maths are “male subjects,” made her doubt her own ability. This fear gradually overshadowed her academic ambition and threatened to derail her future plans.
At the same time, deeply rooted cultural taboos around sexual and reproductive health (SRH) further limited Umu’s confidence. Conversations about menstruation, contraception, and reproductive rights were largely absent at home and in the community. As she entered puberty, Umu had little accurate information on the changes she was experiencing and no safe space to ask questions. These combined pressures academic fear, low self-confidence, and restricted access to reliable information created a self-fulfilling cycle that made success feel increasingly unattainable.
Creating a Nurturing Ecosystem
The EmpowerHer: Advancing Girls’ Education for a Brighter Future programme, funded by the Stone Family Foundation and implemented by Restless Development Sierra Leone, was designed to respond directly to challenges faced by girls like Umu. Through a girl-led, community-centered model, EmpowerHer supports 250 adolescent girls aged 14–19 in Moyamba District to build agency, confidence, and supportive ecosystems for learning.
Motivated by a desire to change her situation, Umu enrolled in EmpowerHer activities delivered through the Digital Learning Centre, life skills sessions, STEM exposure, Career Quest games, and comprehensive sexuality education. These sessions covered communication, leadership, self-esteem, goal setting, puberty and menstrual health, consent, and informed decision-making, delivered in a safe, supportive environment by trained female mentors.
Reframing the Narrative
Through consistent participation in digital learning, Career Quest games, and life skills sessions, Umu began to confront and reframe her fear of Mathematics. The Career Quest activities helped her understand how Mathematics connects directly to Health Sciences and Nursing, challenging the belief that Math should limit her aspirations. Over time, she became more confident engaging with numerical concepts and more motivated to persist in her studies.
Equally transformative was Umu’s participation in sexual and reproductive health sessions, which provided accurate information and encouraged open discussion. These sessions strengthened her confidence to the extent that she can now comfortably discuss menstrual hygiene and related issues with her parents something that once felt impossible.
An important indirect contributor to this change was EmpowerHer’s Positive Parenting initiative, in which Umu’s mother actively participated. As a result, Umu’s mother has become a trusted source of advice and support, particularly on SRH matters, reinforcing learning at home and strengthening Umu’s sense of safety and self-worth. Mentors observed that Umu’s increased confidence was evident in her active participation during sessions, her willingness to ask questions, and her readiness to share her experiences with peers clear indicators of growing agency.
From Aspiration to Action
Today, Umu Bah’s confidence is shaping every aspect of her life. She is no longer paralysed by fear of Mathematics or silenced around sensitive topics. With the encouragement of her parents and the skills gained through the initiative, Umu is now motivated to pursue her dream of becoming a Nurse with renewed determination.
Umu has also become a quiet source of inspiration for other girls in her community, demonstrating that fear does not define ability and that confidence can be learned. Her journey from fear to empowerment captures the essence of the EmpowerHer project impact: enabling adolescent girls to challenge limiting norms, build self-belief, and take ownership of their futures. Umu’s story is a powerful reminder that when girls are given safe spaces, accurate information, supportive families, and belief in their potential, they can transform fear into strength and aspiration into action.
