Thirty persons with disabilities have graduated from the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre in Kpanga Krim Chiefdom, Pujehun District, after completing vocational training in tailoring, soap making and bead making under the Empowering Youths and Women with Disabilities for Independent and Sustainable Living (TECH-VOC) Project.

The graduation ceremony, held on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, marked a significant milestone in promoting economic empowerment and social inclusion for persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone. The TECH-VOC Project is funded by Trocaire and implemented by the Welfare Society for the Disabled Sierra Leone (WESOFOD-SL) in Pujehun District.
The project aims to equip women, youths and parents or caregivers of children with disabilities with practical vocational skills, enabling them to establish sustainable livelihoods, improve their economic independence and actively contribute to community development.

The colourful graduation ceremony took place at the Village of Hope along the Pujehun–Bo Highway. It attracted a wide range of stakeholders, including traditional leaders, government officials, civil society organisations, disability groups, family members, the media and development partners. The event commenced with a vibrant march-past from the Clock Tower to the training centre, symbolising the graduates’ journey towards self-reliance and independence.

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Before the graduation, all participants received training in business and financial management to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills and prepare them to manage their future businesses successfully.

Welcoming guests, the Regent Chief of Kpanga Krim Chiefdom, Ibrahim Koroma, thanked everyone for attending the ceremony and described the graduation as a historic occasion for the chiefdom. He commended WESOFOD-SL and its development partner, Trocaire, for investing in the lives of persons with disabilities in Pujehun District. He further urged communities to continue supporting and promoting the rights, dignity and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

As part of the ceremony, WESOFOD-SL presented certificates and start-up kits to the 30 graduates, including parents of children with disabilities, to enable them to establish small businesses and become self-reliant. Outstanding students were also recognised with awards for their exceptional performance during the training programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Director of WESOFOD-SL, Joseph Alieu Kamara, expressed appreciation to Trocaire for its unwavering support and commended the WESOFOD-SL Pujehun team for successfully implementing the project.
He explained that the TECH-VOC Project supported the construction of the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre in 2025 and fully equipped its workshops with the tools, equipment and materials needed for effective vocational training.
According to him, the project enrolled 30 youths and women with disabilities, including parents and caregivers of children with disabilities, in practical skills training in tailoring, soap making and bead making, thereby creating opportunities for sustainable employment and improved livelihoods.
He advised the graduates to make effective use of the start-up kits provided and to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired, reminding them that such opportunities should be valued and maximised.

The WESOFOD-SL District Coordinator for Pujehun, Mohamed Sillah, also thanked Trocaire for its continued commitment to disability inclusion and economic empowerment.
He noted that beyond vocational skills training, the project provides participants with business and financial management knowledge to improve their chances of establishing successful enterprises. He encouraged the graduates to become role models within their communities by confidently applying their new skills and using the equipment provided for its intended purpose.

The Coordinator of the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre, Alhaji M. Sheriff, also expressed gratitude to WESOFOD-SL and Trocaire for supporting disability inclusion through skills development.
He urged the graduates to remain determined and committed to their new professions and assured stakeholders that the centre would continue monitoring and mentoring beneficiaries until they achieved sustainable independence and self-reliance.

Representing Trocaire, Mories Peawa commended WESOFOD-SL for the successful implementation of the TECH-VOC Project, describing the organisation’s performance as impressive and satisfactory.
He said Trocaire was pleased with the project’s achievements and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with WESOFOD-SL in promoting disability inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.
He also encouraged the graduates to carefully maintain the tools and materials they received and use them to improve their lives and contribute positively to society.

The graduation ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to all 30 graduates, celebrating their resilience, determination and achievement.
The event represents another important step towards expanding access to inclusive vocational education, promoting equal opportunities and enhancing the economic independence of persons with disabilities in Pujehun District.