The Women’s Forum for Human Rights And Democracy (WOFHRAD) is actively empowering female candidates in Bombali through various training sessions. Their latest session took place on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023, at the Makeni City Council Hall.

What sets this particular training apart from previous projects is its funding, provided by World Vision. This initiative targets female candidates across six districts, namely Karene, Western Area Rural, Kono, Western Area Urban, and Pujehun.

Suard Henrietta Koroma, who is running for the councillor position at the Bombali District Council under the All People’s Congress ticket, expressed gratitude to WOFHRAD and its partners for providing this empowering platform. She emphasized that the absence of such training sessions in the past has discouraged women from participating in politics.

She stated, “It has helped other female candidates to overcome the fear of public speaking, which has been a barrier for many.”

Esther Hawa Conteh, a candidate for Member of Parliament from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party, highlighted one of the unique aspects of these training sessions. They provide a platform for interaction among female candidates from various political parties.

She shared, “The sessions have been very interactive. We share a common platform, learn from each other’s experiences and challenges. This helps us greatly, especially in Bombali, where we aim to change people’s perception and encourage them to vote wisely.”

Emilia Kamara-Jengo, the Co-founder and Programs Coordinator of WOFHRAD, stressed that the primary goal of these sessions is to ensure that successful female candidates work in the best interests of their constituents. She urged voters in the June 24th elections to support female candidates, stating,

“While some women elected in the past may not have met our expectations, we should not judge all female candidates based on that. We have women candidates with integrity who are dedicated to maintaining the trust they have built over the years. Let us give women the opportunity to showcase their leadership qualities and create positive change for the greater good.”