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Hundreds of families gathered in Freetown on Saturday for a Family Health Walk, marking Sierra Leone’s first official observance of the International Day of Families.
The event, led by the Ministry of Social Welfare in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and other partners, began at the Aberdeen Roundabout and concluded at the SOS Hermann Gmeiner International School compound. The United Nations first declared the International Day of Families in 1993, but Saturday’s commemoration was the country’s first official recognition of the day.
The walk, described by organizers as an atmosphere of “joy, reflection, and togetherness,” aimed to highlight family bonds, healthier communities, and meaningful conversations within homes.
Leading the procession was the Honourable Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty, alongside other cabinet ministers and government officials, who walked shoulder-to-shoulder with citizens.
At the conclusion of the event, participants signed a symbolic “Commitment Wall,” pledging to take personal action against child marriage, domestic violence, and other harmful practices affecting children and families.
Speaking on behalf of the government and President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Minister Karminty thanked citizens for their participation. Reaffirming her commitment as a mother raising a son to respect women, she called on every Sierra Leonean to nurture strong households, protect children, and uphold family values.
“A stronger nation begins at home,” she said.
The event precedes the country’s first-ever International Family Day Conference, scheduled to be held later this year.
