Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone

12/08/2026

Happy International Youth Day 2026!

Today, we are celebrating ourselves, young people.

We are young people from different communities, backgrounds, and experiences, but we share one thing: we want to see a better Sierra Leone and a better world.

At Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone, we are not waiting for someone else to change things for us. We are learning, organizing, creating solutions, and taking action in our communities.

We are speaking up about climate change.
We are supporting renewable energy.
We are promoting sustainable agriculture.
We are creating opportunities for other young people.
We are working with our communities to solve problems that affect our everyday lives.

We know that being young does not mean our voices should be ignored.

We have ideas.
We have skills.
We dare to act.
And we deserve a seat at the table.

But we also know that many young people, especially those in rural and underserved communities, still face barriers to education, jobs, opportunities, and resources.

That is why we will continue to stand together, learn together, and create opportunities for one another.

We are not just the leaders of tomorrow. We are part of the leadership of today.

Today, we celebrate our voices, our dreams, our struggles, and our determination to make a difference.

To every young person who is trying, learning, leading, creating, ng and refusing to give up, we see you. We believe in you. Keep going.

From all of us at Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone, Happy International Youth Day! ❤️🌍

Our voices. Our ideas. Our action. Our future.

UNICEF Sierra Leone Global Center on Adaptation UNDP in Sierra Leone Plan Int'l Sierra Leone Women Environmental Programme Sierra Leone Global Youth Mobilization- Youth Summits ActionAid Sierra Leone SOS-Kinderdorf Deutschland GYCSierraLeone Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development YASDev

10/08/2026

Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone is partnering with other youth-led organizations and partners for the LCOY 2026 Regional Youth Consultation taking place today at the Regional Library in Makeni City.

The consultation brings together young people from across the Northern Region to share their climate priorities, challenges and solutions. The discussions will contribute to the National Youth Statement and ensure that regional youth voices are represented at LCOY Sierra Leone 2026 in October.

We are pleased to be part of this important conversation and to support meaningful youth participation in climate action and decision-making.

We've taken the conversation to Bombali District. This morning, LCOY 2026 is at the Regional Library in Makeni City for the Regional Youth Consultation, bringing together young people from across the region to share their priorities on climate change in Sierra Leone.

This consultation is part of the lead up to LCOY 2026, Sierra Leone's Local Conference of Youth, officially endorsed by LCOY and a project of YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the UNFCCC. The discussions here in Makeni will help shape the National Youth Statement and ensure that voices from Bombali are represented at the national conference in October.

Huge thanks to our co-hosts, Youth Climate Council Sierra Leone, Forum for Agriculture, innovation and empowerment for Children and Youths, Foundation for Youth Empowerment and Advocacy, DearPlastic DearPlastic, ECO-Tourism Hub, Youth Initiative 4 Climate Action, and Action For Community Resilience Group - ACRG , and to our partners, , Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone, YAD Sierra Leone, Girls Connect Sierra Leone, MTeC innovative hub, and LEAD Sierra Leone, for making this possible.

30/07/2026

With UNICEF Sierra Leone – I just got recognized as one of their top fans!

26/07/2026

The *International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem* was adopted by the *General Conference of UNESCO* in 2015 and celebrated each year on 26 July.

It aims to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as "a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem" and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.

18/07/2026

The future of climate adaptation in Sierra Leone will not be determined by policies and strategies alone. It will be shaped by the young people who are prepared to turn ideas into action and drive solutions within their communities. As climate impacts continue to affect lives, livelihoods, food security, and development across the country, investing in youth leadership has become one of the most important steps toward building resilient communities and securing a climate-resilient future.

As the In-Country Focal Point for Sierra Leone under the African Youth Adaptation Network (AYAN), an initiative of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone has the responsibility of supporting the growth of youth-led adaptation action across the country. A key part of this mandate is to establish and strengthen a national network of young people who can champion adaptation solutions in their communities. In March 2026, we officially launched the Youth Climate Adaptation Network (YCAN) Sierra Leone, creating a platform to connect, equip, and mobilize young people to advance climate resilience and adaptation at both community and national levels.

As part of this ongoing effort, we were proud to collaborate with GYCSierraLeone Global Youth Counterpart Sierra Leone (GYC-SL) and Concern Worldwide Sierra Leone to organize a two-day Youth Climate Champion Advocates Training that brought together 20 young leaders representing all 16 districts of Sierra Leone. Throughout the training, participants strengthened their skills in climate adaptation, climate advocacy, policy engagement, community mobilization, climate justice, gender-responsive adaptation, inclusive leadership, and youth participation. More importantly, they joined a growing movement of young leaders committed to advancing locally led adaptation solutions in the communities that need them most.

The significance of this initiative goes beyond the training itself. These young leaders now form part of a national network that can help expand adaptation knowledge, strengthen community resilience, promote climate justice, and inspire action across every district of Sierra Leone. We remain committed to expanding the Youth Climate Adaptation Network across Sierra Leone and creating more opportunities for young people to lead adaptation efforts at the local, national, and continental levels.

We welcome partnerships with donors, development partners, government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector that share our vision of strengthening climate resilience through youth-led action. Together, we can build a future where young people are not only adapting to climate change but leading the solutions.

15/07/2026

We are proud to celebrate our Founder and Executive Director, Alicious Bessiama, on being selected among the Top 50 shortlisted candidates for the Pledge for Nature Launchpad 2026 by Youth for Environmental Conservation Initiative (YECI).

This recognition reflects his dedication to climate action, environmental conservation, and youth empowerment in Sierra Leone and beyond.

Congratulations, Alicious, and best wishes for the next stage of the journey.

15/07/2026

A very powerful and timely message. Flooding is not only caused by heavy rainfall, but also by human actions. Every plastic bag, bottle, and piece of waste thrown into our gutters and waterways contributes to blocked drainage systems and increases the risk of devastating floods.

Keeping Freetown clean is a shared responsibility. Proper waste disposal, responsible environmental behavior, and supporting approved waste collection services can save lives, protect properties, and build a more resilient city.

The video clearly reminds us that the choices we make today determine the kind of environment we live in tomorrow.

15/07/2026

Across many schools in Sierra Leone, poor waste management continues to contribute to environmental pollution, unhealthy learning environments, and limited opportunities for young people to participate in climate action. Through the Eco Champion Project: Trash 2 Cash, Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone is working to transform schools into centres of environmental leadership, sustainability, and practical climate solutions.

Yesterday, we successfully expanded the project to Bilingual Redemption School and Makeni Comprehensive Academy (MCA) by establishing EcoRise Green Hubs and engaging pupils and teachers in practical waste management and environmental stewardship activities.

As part of the activities, waste bins were distributed across both schools and pupils were organised into three environmental action groups:

♻️ Organic Waste Management Group

♻️ Plastic Waste Management Group

♻️ Paper Waste Management Group

Each group was assigned responsibility for managing and sorting specific categories of waste within the school environment. Through this hands-on approach, pupils are developing practical knowledge and leadership skills while promoting cleaner and healthier school communities.

To ensure sustainability and long-term ownership, teachers were actively engaged and entrusted with supervising the student leadership structure and overall management of the EcoRise Green Hubs. The hubs will also serve as platforms for tree planting activities, environmental awareness campaigns, and community climate education initiatives.

The day featured waste sorting demonstrations, climate education sessions, and interactive learning activities that made environmental education practical, engaging, and action-oriented.

Through the Eco Champion Project, we are equipping young people with the tools to become environmental champions while creating cleaner schools and more resilient communities.

Together, we are turning waste into opportunity and empowering the next generation of climate leaders in Sierra Leone.

SOS-Kinderdorf Deutschland SOS Villages d'Enfants Tunisie Women Environmental Programme Sierra Leone Plan Int'l Sierra Leone UNDP in Sierra Leone Global Center on Adaptation Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development YASDev Global Youth Mobilization- Youth Summits Forum for Agriculture, innovation and empowerment for Children and Youths Green Leone

14/07/2026

Plastic waste pollution continues to be one of the growing environmental challenges in Makeni City. From blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate dumping sites to increasing risks of flooding and environmental health hazards, the need for practical waste management solutions and environmental education has never been more urgent.

Today, Sunrise Movement Sierra Leone continued the implementation of the Eco Champion Project: Trash 2 Cash by successfully establishing another EcoRise Green Hub at Oxford International Academy, engaging pupils and teachers in practical climate action and sustainable waste management activities.

As part of today’s activities, waste bins were distributed across the school and pupils were organised into three environmental action groups:

♻️ Organic Waste Management Group

♻️ Plastic Waste Management Group

♻️ Paper Waste Management Group

Each group was assigned responsibility for managing and sorting specific categories of waste within the school environment. This practical system is helping pupils understand the importance of waste segregation, environmental responsibility, teamwork, and sustainable living from an early age.

To strengthen sustainability and long-term ownership, teachers were actively engaged and entrusted with supervising the student leadership structure and overall management of the EcoRise Green Hub. Beyond waste collection, the Green Hub will also lead tree planting activities and community climate education through interactive play-based learning methods designed to engage other pupils and young people within surrounding communities.

The day featured circle play games, waste sorting demonstrations, and climate education sessions that made environmental learning practical, engaging, and action-oriented.

Through the Eco Champion Project, we are building cleaner schools, empowering young environmental leaders, and creating sustainable community-driven climate solutions in Sierra Leone.

Tomorrow, we continue our journey to another school as we expand the EcoRise Green Hub network and inspire more young people to become champions for environmental sustainability.

Together, we are turning waste into opportunity.

04/07/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Harriette Minah, Musa Gbabai, Prophetic Paul Doherty