Caritas Freetown Launches Youth Community Advisory Board on Child Mental Health Research.
The Research Department of Caritas Freetown has officially launched its Youth Community Advisory Board (CAB) as part of a project titled “Social and Biological Mechanisms Driving the Impact of War on Child Mental Health.” The inaugural consultative meeting was held at the Caritas Freetown Development Office, located at 19 Savage Street, Brookfields, Freetown. It brought together youth practitioners drawn from various institutions across the Western Area Municipality. The meeting served as an introductory platform to orientate participants on the project’s objectives, scope, and implementation approach, while also fostering collaboration among key youth stakeholders. A total of 12 CAB members, nominated by their respective institutions, were selected to provide strategic input and meaningful contributions to the planning and implementation of the project. The session was officially opened by the Caritas Freetown Programs Manager, who welcomed participants and presented an overview of the Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI) and the GCC Elevate Project. This was followed by a detailed presentation from the Caritas Team Lead, who outlined the YRI Elevate framework and emphasized the roles of both government and non-governmental partner organizations in the project’s implementation. During the discussions, CAB members expressed strong commitment to advancing youth empowerment initiatives and provide candid opinions to support the adaptation of substance-use prevention mechanisms aimed at addressing prevailing mental health challenges among young people in Sierra Leone. Participants were also oriented on the project’s study design, research protocols, and collaborative implementation strategies to ensure ethical and effective engagement throughout the project lifecycle. The Youth Community Advisory Board pledged to provide thoughtful, informed, and impactful contributions toward the successful implementation of the GCC Project and the realization of its overall vision to improve child and youth mental health outcomes.
FSI-ECD+VP Project Holds Community Advisory Board Meeting to Strengthen Early Childhood Development and Violence Prevention Intervention
The Family Strengthening Intervention, Early Childhood Development and Violence Prevention Project (FSI-ECD+VP), with support from Boston College, today convened a Community Advisory Board (CAB) meeting at the Caritas Freetown Field Office, Brookfields. The meeting brought together 10 distinguished experts in Early Childhood Development (ECD), CAB members, and project staff to review progress and provide strategic guidance for strengthening and expanding the intervention. The meeting aimed to gather expert insights and feedback on the ongoing ECD intervention, assess its effectiveness, identify strengths and gaps, and develop practical strategies to ensure sustainability, cultural relevance, and long-term impact of the project. Key discussions focused on practical strategies to help caregivers, both male and female, manage stress and frustration within the home environment. Participants also examined early warning signs that interventionists should monitor when caregiver stress begins to pose potential risks to children and family wellbeing. The CAB further explored existing gaps in parenting interventions, particularly the limited participation of male caregivers. Discussions highlighted possible reasons for low male involvement and proposed strategies to encourage their engagement in future project roll-outs. Another major area of discussion centered on contextualizing the FSI-ECD+VP intervention to suit diverse communities. Participants emphasized the importance of cultural relevance, local context adaptation, and community ownership in ensuring effective implementation. Experts commended several positive outcomes of the intervention, noting that training sessions for educators and caregivers have strengthened local capacity, improved knowledge of early childhood development, and enhanced the delivery of supportive services for vulnerable families. However, while the overall progress was viewed positively, the CAB emphasized the need for stronger multi-sectoral collaboration among government institutions, NGOs, and community stakeholders. Participants also recommended reinforcing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to guide adaptive learning, ensure accountability, and sustain project impact beyond initial implementation phases. The CAB meeting reaffirmed the commitment of Caritas Freetown, Boston College, and stakeholders to promoting safe, nurturing environments for children while strengthening family resilience and community support systems across intervention communities.
Caritas Freetown Convenes Stakeholders’ Meeting for ELEVATE Youth Empowerment Project.
Caritas Freetown successfully convened a stakeholders’ meeting for the ELEVATE Project — Empowering Youth: Scaling and Integrating the Youth Readiness Intervention into Employment Promotion Programs and Schools and enhancing coping skill and substance use prevention in Sierra Leone at its coordination office in Kingtom, Freetown. The meeting brought together key partners, including representatives from the Ministry of Youth Affairs Sierra Leone, Ministry of Social Welfare, Kissi psychiatrist teaching hospital and Global Network for youth forum respectively to strengthen collaboration and enhance youth empowerment initiatives. Discussions focused on integrating youth readiness interventions into employment promotion programmes and schools to ensure young people are better equipped with skills of positive coping mechanisms, improving emotional regulation, resilience, and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. A comprehensive overview of the project’s goals, objectives, and expected outcomes was presented by the Programs Manager (BC/Caritas). This was followed by stakeholder reflections, group discussions, and interactive engagement sessions aimed at identifying collaboration models, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and assessing resources needed for effective implementation. The meeting concluded with clear action points, renewed commitments to partnership, and strong enthusiasm to collectively advance youth development and employment readiness initiatives. Caritas Freetown appreciates the active participation of all stakeholders and looks forward to continued collaboration as partners work together to empower young people and expand opportunities for capital development in the future.
Caritas Freetown Hosts National Workshop on Scaling Early Childhood Development in Sierra Leone
Caritas Freetown, in collaboration with the Boston College School of Social Work through its Research Program on Children and Adversity, and in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, convened a dissemination workshop aimed at strengthening Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Sierra Leone. The event was held on 23 April at the Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Freetown. The initiative seeks to advance early childhood development by translating research evidence into practical, scalable, and cost-effective programmes and policies that improve the health, well-being, and long-term outcomes of children across the country. It forms part of the multi-country “THRIVE” research programme, implemented through the Family Strengthening Intervention for Early Childhood Development and Violence Prevention (FSI-ECD+VP). The project brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including government institutions, researchers, local non-governmental organisations, and development partners, with the shared objective of addressing existing gaps in scaling ECD interventions from pilot phases to nationwide implementation. Key participants at the workshop included Mrs. Worokia Conteh, Director of Family Welfare at the Ministry of Social Welfare; Mrs. Melody Martin, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education; Mrs. Kate Jefferies, Education Advisor at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh, Director of Caritas Freetown; Mr. Dauda Sesay, THRIVE (FSI) Project Manager at Caritas Freetown; Dr.Theresa Betancourt, Director of the Research Program on Children and Adversity at Boston College; and Ms. Kashiya Nwanguma, Programme Manager at the same institution. The workshop was structured into four core sessions designed to move discussions from contextual understanding to actionable strategies for scale. The first session focused on setting the context, establishing a shared understanding of Sierra Leone’s ECD landscape and policy direction. The second session examined the Family Strengthening Intervention pilot, presenting research findings and gathering feedback from frontline practitioners. The third session explored the broader institutional landscape, mapping existing government systems to avoid duplication and identify opportunities for integration. The final session centred on synergy and dialogue, with emphasis on establishing coordinated mechanisms across sectors such as health, nutrition, hygiene, education, and social protection. In conclusion, the workshop underscored a coordinated national effort to transition early childhood development initiatives in Sierra Leone from isolated pilot projects to a sustainable, nationwide framework. By aligning research evidence with government systems and community-based delivery, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to building an integrated approach that supports the holistic development of children and strengthens the country’s long-term human capital outcomes.