Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Council of Churches Sierra Leone (CCSL) recently hosted Brenda Etheridge and Laverne Thorpe, two representatives from the Global Ministries USA, during their visit to local communities in Sierra Leone.
The tour, which focused on community engagement and skills-building, aimed to strengthen partnerships and foster sustainable development initiatives.
The visit began in the village of Makontaykay in Bombali District, where the women’s groundnut farming group has notably flourished under the support of CCSL. The group’s partnership with the Council began through one of its member churches, the Huntington Connexion.
Over the years, the women have reportedly made significant progress, expanding their impact through a village savings and loan (VSLA) program that has empowered many women, supported families, and ensured that children can access education.
Laverne Thorpe, one of the visiting partners from Global Ministries USA, expressed her admiration for the community’s achievements. “It is truly inspiring to see how these women have sustained and expanded the initiative so effectively,” she said.
Following their visit to Makontaykay, the delegation traveled to Kabala, where they engaged with 20 young participants at the Christian Reformed Church Sierra Leone Technical and Vocational Institute.
At the institute, the group conducted a hands-on training workshop in beaded fabric earring creation and the crafting of bags from recycled plastic.
Brenda Etheridge, also a representative from Global Ministries USA, expressed how rewarding it was to see the enthusiasm of the young people in Kabala.
“The youth were excited about learning new crafts, and they appreciated the patience, clarity, and dedication shown during the training,” she noted. Many of the participants shared how the skills they gained will help them generate income and save money for their future needs.
This three-day workshop in Kabala is part of a broader initiative aimed at equipping youth across Sierra Leone with practical skills for economic empowerment.
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