The Kunike Sanda Chiefdom Youth Council has unveiled a renewed community-driven campaign titled “Kush Not in My Community”a three-month initiative aimed at combating the spread of the deadly synthetic drug known as Kush, which continues to ravage lives across Sierra Leone.

Established in 2022, the “Kush Not in My Community” movement has been a beacon of hope in the fight against drug abuse in Kunike Sanda Chiefdom. Despite operating without external funding, the youth-led initiative has rescued victims, supported rehabilitation efforts, and provided counseling to affected individuals proving that grassroots action can make a lasting impact.

“We started this movement from nothing but determination,” said Mohamed Samuel Kargbo, Youth Chairman of Kunike Sanda Chiefdom and Spokesman of the Tonkolili District Youth Council. “Our goal is to give young people a second chance at life through awareness, empowerment, and skills training.”

The upcoming phase of the project, scheduled to run from November 2025 to January 2026, will focus on expanding awareness, education, and youth rehabilitation through a series of strategic activities.

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Project Objectives

The campaign seeks to:

Strengthen awareness across schools and communities in Kunike Sanda Chiefdom;

Enroll 200 youth, particularly Kush survivors, into technical and vocational programs at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) in Masingbi;

Sustain collaboration with the Masingbi Community Health Centre (CHC) for free health and rehabilitation services;

Promote mentorship, leadership, and community service to prevent relapse; and

Build partnerships with government, NGOs, and individuals to ensure long-term sustainability.

Community Achievements and Partnerships

Since its inception, the Kunike Sanda Chiefdom Youth Council has supported over 100 Kush survivors, some of whom have already been enrolled in vocational training programs. The group has also partnered with the Masingbi CHC to provide free health maintenance services for recovering addicts marking a major milestone in community-based rehabilitation.

Local youth artists have also been engaged to compose and perform awareness songs in schools and public events, spreading messages of hope and resilience through music.

Planned Activities

The three-month project will feature:

Cross-country awareness drives with rallies, motivational talks, and school visits;

School sensitization programs using drama and testimonies from reformed users;

Skills empowerment initiatives offering training opportunities at GTI Masingbi;

Community health support through strengthened partnerships with health workers; and

Media engagement via radio programs and online advocacy.

The campaign aims to engage more than 10 secondary schools and sensitize over 2,000 students, empower at least 100 youth through skills and entrepreneurship programs, and reinforce local partnerships for sustained addiction recovery and youth leadership.

The Youth Council is appealing for collaboration and support from the Government of Sierra Leone, particularly the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare, Drug Control Agency, NaCSA, and Eshadal, as well as from development partners, NGOs, and corporate organizations.

“This is not just a campaign against drugs it is a battle for our generation’s survival and future,” Kargbo emphasized. “With support, we can transform victims into victors, despair into hope, and communities into centers of healing and progress.”

The “Kush Not in My Community” initiative continues to stand as a model of youth-led resilience and community-driven change in the ongoing fight to make Sierra Leone a Kush-free nation.