By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Freetown — The Lifeline Nehemiah Project hosted a pivotal media engagement on Friday, July 24, 2025, spotlighting its findings on the 2YoungLives initiative — a program committed to protecting and supporting teenage mothers and their children across Sierra Leone.
Held at the Lifeline Nehemiah Compound in Freetown, the event served as a platform to amplify urgent conversations around teenage pregnancy, social reintegration, and youth empowerment in vulnerable communities.
The 2YoungLives Project, launched in the aftermath of the Ebola crisis in 2016, mentors pregnant girls under the age of 18 from conception through the first year of motherhood. Research Assistant Mandenda Kamara recounted its modest beginnings: three mentors supporting three girls identified through community outreach. Today, the project provides comprehensive emotional, medical, and social support — including hospital care and education on contraception.
“The first pregnancy might be a mistake, but the second shouldn’t happen due to lack of knowledge or support,” Kamara stressed.
The project also integrates:
– Technical training & employment pathways
– Contributions to the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan
– Support for Sierra Leone’s Radical Inclusion Policy
– Advocacy for children’s rights under the National Child Policy
– Partnerships aligned with the Health Sector Strategic Plan
Voices Calling for Change
Communications Manager Abdul Aziz Samura noted the heartbreaking reality of teenage pregnancy, describing instances where “a child is giving birth to another child.” He emphasized the project’s role in shifting narratives and protecting vulnerable lives.
Finance Assistant John Sanpha Kamara highlighted plans to scale the program nationally, citing rising rates of teenage pregnancy and urging coordinated action across sectors.
The initiative aligns with the government’s policies on Radical Inclusion, aiming to curb dropout rates among pregnant and disabled youth and to challenge stigmatization within schools. Collaboration with international organizations has bolstered these efforts, allowing survivors of stigmatization to become empowered leaders in society.