By Alusine Sesay
Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 26, 2025: Stakeholders from across faiths, government, and civil society convened for the opening of the 7th edition of the Strengthening Families Conference (SFC 2025), issuing a unified call for the empowerment of women and the protection of children as foundational pillars for building stronger communities.
The two-day conference, themed “Building Stronger Communities through Women Empowerment and Child Protection,” began on June 26 at a time organizers say demands urgent and transformative action.
Delivering the keynote address, Her Excellency Madam Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, challenged participants to move beyond dialogue and shape policies that empower women as catalysts of social change. “Empowering women is not charity—it is justice,” she said. “They are the architects of families, and families are the backbone of our society.”
The event brought together a cross-section of leaders, including religious figures, diplomats, traditional authorities, and NGO representatives.
Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasized holistic empowerment—from spiritual to educational—stating, “Women of virtue and strength build resilient communities, and that empowerment begins in the home.”
Echoing this, Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, President of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, described empowerment as both a social and spiritual mandate, calling on religious institutions to match words with action.
Representing traditional leadership, Paramount Chief Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku-Sonsiama III, Chair of the National Council of Paramount Chiefs, underscored the need for cultural evolution, saying, “When women are at the table, families thrive, and nations grow.”
The conference also featured Elder Kenneth Pambu, Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who delivered the opening remarks emphasizing the need for unified engagement across tradition, policy, and faith.
Regional Support and Dialogue
Goodwill messages came from Liberia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bob Sheriff, and Amir Musa Mewa, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Sierra Leone, both highlighting women’s empowerment as vital to national and regional development.
Interactive Panel and Awards
A panel discussion led by APPWA President Madam Isatu Jabbie Kabbah and organizational advisor Aminata Turay explored strategies for grassroots mobilization, policy influence, and collaborative leadership to advance women’s rights and child protection. The day closed with an award ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions to community empowerment and advocacy.
Dynamic Exhibition
An exhibition featuring partner organizations showcased impactful work across women’s empowerment, child welfare, family support, and education, reinforcing the conference’s practical and collaborative approach.
As Day One of SFC 2025 concluded, the resounding message across cultures and sectors was this: empowering women and protecting children is not optional—it is essential for building just, resilient, and thriving societies.