In Sierra Leone, a quiet revolution is unfolding—led not by presidents or policymakers but by teenage girls. For generations, the futures of many young girls in the country were shaped not by their dreams but by early marriage and adolescent pregnancy. But today, thanks to the FOUNDATIONS program, girls like Messie (pictured) are claiming their voices—and rewriting the narrative.
At just 15, Messie is a member of the community task force who speaks with wisdom well beyond her years. “At first, I was afraid to speak in public,” she admits. “But now I help other girls find their voices, too. I want every girl to know she matters and has the right to dream.”
Her words reflect the core mission of the FOUNDATIONS project, implemented in Sierra Leone, Mali, and Niger: to empower girls with the knowledge, confidence, and access to sexual and reproductive health services they need to make their own choices. For girls in Sierra Leone the stakes are high, with nearly one in three girls being married before the age of 18. Many are forced to leave school, and many give birth before the age of 19—trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependence.
But change is in motion.
A new era of hope
In a landmark victory in 2024, Sierra Leone officially banned child marriage, criminalizing unions with anyone under 18 and enforcing penalties on violators. This historic bill followed years of advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns led by girls and supported by organizations like Save the Children, as well as the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio. The FOUNDATIONS program was instrumental in training local champions and building momentum for this life-changing legislation.
“When we invest in girls like Messie, we invest in the future of the entire community,” says a Ndomakeh Federation staff member, one of the community organizations who have partnered with Save the Children on the project. “Her courage and growth show us that change is not only possible—it is already happening.”
Beyond legal reform, FOUNDATIONS is transforming everyday realities for girls. Through capacity-building, policy advocacy, and support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, the program is ensuring that girls not only survive—but thrive. Thanks to the enforcement of the 2021 Radical Inclusion Policy, pregnant girls and adolescent mothers are now returning to school in greater numbers, reclaiming their education and their futures.
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In a country once defined by grim statistics, hope is rising—and girls are leading the way.
As Messie continues to mentor others in her community, her story stands as a reminder: when girls are given space to speak, the world must listen. With programs like FOUNDATIONS, Sierra Leone is demonstrating what’s possible when girls are not seen as problems to be fixed but as leaders of change.
FOUNDATIONS is conducted in partnership between Save the Children, Sick Kids, Equipop, International Rescue Committee and ODI, and generously supported by Global Affairs Canada, The Slaight Family Foundation, MCIC and The Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal.