In Sierra Leone, one in 17 mothers face a lifetime risk of dying while giving birth. This is one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with an estimated 1,165 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the UN’s most recent data Nearly half of these mothers are girls under 19 years of age. At Restless Development, …
“I can now find a way to feed myself and my family.” In a bustling market just outside of Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital city, a young entrepreneur blasts music out of big speakers in his shop. “They hear sweet songs playing.” Alusine runs what he describes as an electronics shop and uses a playlist of …
On the 27th May 2015 Restless Development held an Ebola Response Mid-Term Review in Freetown. The aim was to highlight best practices, innovations, challenges and solutions based on Restless Development’s social mobilisation response, which has been delivered since June 2014.
The purpose of this study was to understand the reality of youth participation in decision-making at the local council level. This field research was carried out between January and March 2013 by a research team from Restless Development. If I had unlimited resources to invest in youth in the district, the priorities I would focus …
This manifesto shares the thoughts, hopes, expectations and fears of young people around the 2012 elections and their vision for a brighter Sierra Leone of the future. The manifesto was an advocacy tool whose goal is to inform and influence those involved in contesting the elections, bodies administering the elections, donors and civil society organisations …
May 2012 This is a report of youth-led research undertaken in 2012. The purpose of the report is to amplify the voices of young people across Sierra Leone around the key issues affecting their lives. It reflects the views of over 200 young people, and is supplemented by those of other stakeholders from civil society …
This report is an overview of young people’s experiences and perceptions from just before the 2018 presidential elections. The votes of Sierra Leone’s young people are key in elections – under 35s comprise 58% of the voting age population, a higher proportion than at any time in Sierra Leone’s history. Despite this, young people are …
In a bustling market just outside of Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital city, a young entrepreneur blasts music out of big speakers in his shop. “They hear sweet songs playing.” Alusine runs what he describes as an electronics shop and uses a playlist of Nigerian, American and Sierra Leonean beats to entice his customers. Alusine, a …
Lamin is one of the youngest bakery owners in Waterloo, Sierra Leone, employing four other young people. Together they produce over a thousand loaves each day, providing a good living for themselves and their families. Things were not always this way for Lamin and still aren’t for many young Sierra Leoneans who face huge challenges …
“Education helps us to be self-reliant, which gives way for innovation and creativity to solve problems in our society.” Mary is 22 years old and lives in rural Sierra Leone. Her family are farmers. “Growing up was difficult. I was the one who had to cater for our family even as a child. Working at …