Young Women in Governance Network Secretariat

12/08/2026

The celebration continues

The Young Women in Governance Network (YWIGN) team joined the Ministry of Youth Affairs and fellow young people at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre to celebrate International Youth Day 2026.

It was a beautiful moment of connection, reflection, learning, and celebration as young people came together to share ideas, discuss the challenges we face, and explore opportunities to create a better future.

From youth employment and entrepreneurship to leadership, innovation, peace, and meaningful participation, one message stood out clearly, when young people are given the space and opportunity to lead, we can turn challenges into change.

Our realities may be different, but our dreams are connected. Our voices matter. Our ideas matter. And our time to lead is now.

Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.

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TERRA Projekte International e.V.
Irish Aid
Ireland in Sierra Leone
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Young Women in Governance Network Secretariat
Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sierra Leone

12/08/2026

Today, the Young Women in Governance Network Secretariat (YWIGN) proudly joined SHE4Peace and other youth-led organizations at Kroo Bay Community, Freetown, to commemorate International Youth Day 2026, a day dedicated to recognizing the voices, potential, resilience, and contributions of young people around the world.

Guided by this year’s global theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,the celebration reminds us that although young people may come from different communities, backgrounds, and experiences, we share common hopes, peace, dignity, equal opportunities, decent work, inclusion, and a future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

For YWIGN, International Youth Day is more than a celebration. It is an opportunity to reflect on the role young people, especially young women, play in shaping the future of our communities and nation. Young women continue to demonstrate that leadership is not defined by age or position, but by the courage to speak up, take action, create solutions, and inspire others.

YWIGN remains committed to creating meaningful spaces for young women to participate in leadership, governance, peacebuilding, advocacy, and decision-making processes. We believe that when young women are empowered, their voices are heard, and their ideas are valued, communities become stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient.

As we celebrate International Youth Day, we are reminded that the challenges facing young people, from unemployment and limited opportunities to substance abuse, inequality, and exclusion, require collective action, innovative solutions, and genuine youth participation.

Today, we celebrate young people not only for who they are, but for the change they are already creating.

Different contexts. Common aspirations. Shared responsibility. A future shaped by young people.

SEND - SIERRA LEONE
TERRA Projekte International e.V.
Irish Aid
Ireland in Sierra Leone
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs-SL
Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sierra Leone

12/08/2026

12/08/2026

International Youth Day 2026

Today, we celebrate the energy, courage, creativity, and leadership of young people everywhere.

At the Young Women in Governance Network (YWIGN), we believe young people, especially young women, are not just leaders of tomorrow, we are leaders today. Our voices matter, our ideas matter, and our participation in decision-making spaces matters.

This International Youth Day, we celebrate every young person breaking barriers, speaking up, creating change, and daring to dream bigger. Let us continue to build a future where every young person has the opportunity, confidence, and platform to lead.

Different contexts, common aspirations. One generation, one voice, one future.

SEND - SIERRA LEONE
TERRA Projekte International e.V.
Irish Aid
Ireland in Sierra Leone
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs-SL
UNDP in Sierra Leone
Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sierra Leone

11/08/2026

11/08/2026

DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, COMMON ASPIRATIONS

The Young Women in Governance Network Secretariat@(YWIGN) is proud to join SHE4Peace Organization and other youth-led organizations to celebrate International Youth Day 2026 under the theme

“Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

As young people, our stories, experiences, and challenges may differ, but our aspirations remain deeply connected. We all dream of a future where young people, especially young women, have the opportunity to lead, participate, innovate, access decent opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

This celebration at Kroo Bay Community, Freetown, will create a vibrant space for young people to connect, speak up, share ideas, build networks, and celebrate the power of youth through community outreach, football, dialogue, and networking.

At YWIGN, we believe that young women are not just beneficiaries of development, we are changemakers, leaders, and partners in building the Sierra Leone we want.

Together, let’s celebrate our differences, unite around our common aspirations, and continue creating spaces where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

Happy International Youth Day 2026

11/08/2026

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON , YOUTH, INNOVATION & TRANSFORMATION!

The excitement is building, the energy is rising, and International Youth Day 2026 is almost here

Young Women in Governance Network Secretariat (YWIGN) is proud to join the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sierra Leone, the United Nations Youth Association of Sierra Leone, the World Bank, the European Union in Sierra Leone, and other partners and youth-focused organisations to celebrate a generation that is not waiting for change, we are creating it.

This year’s theme, “Harnessing Youth Innovation and Resilience for National Transformation,” is more than just a theme. It is a call to action.

It is a reminder that behind every bold idea, every innovative solution, every resilient young person and every dream for a better Sierra Leone is the power of youth.

At YWIGN, we believe young women are not merely beneficiaries of development, they are leaders, innovators, changemakers and decision-makers. Our voices matter. Our ideas matter. And our participation in shaping Sierra Leone’s future is non-negotiable.

As we prepare to join this year’s celebration, we are ready to connect, learn, share, inspire and amplify the voices of young people through policy discussions, livelihood initiatives, institutional dialogues and youth showcases.

Because when young people are given the space to lead, possibilities become realities.

This International Youth Day, let’s celebrate not just who we are, but the change we have the power to create.

- Young people are the energy.
- Innovation is the spark.
- Resilience is our strength.
- National transformation is our collective responsibility.

See you in Lungi
Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre
Wednesday, 12 August 2026 | 9:00 AM

Happy International Youth Day 2026

10/08/2026

ONGOING | RISE RADIO 96.3 FM

Join us today on Rise Radio 96.3 FM for an engaging discussion on “Bridging the Gap Between Policy Commitments and Real Outcomes for Young People.”

We’ll explore the realities young people face, the commitments made through policies, and what needs to be done to turn those commitments into real opportunities, meaningful participation, and tangible results for youth.

📻 Tune in: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
🎙️ Guests: Saran Konkofa Koroma & Sheka Bangura
📍 Rise Radio 96.3 FM

Because young people deserve more than promises, they deserve results.

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Rise Radiosl 96.3 FM
Network for Youth Awareness and Social Development

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

Today, the YWIGN office is filled with good energy, honest conversations, laughter, and fresh ideas as the team comes together for another meaningful team meeting.

Today’s discussion is centred around leadership reflection, with a powerful topic from Joseph Ayamga: “Character, The Invisible Foundation of Every Great Institution.”

The conversation is reminding us of something simple but important, leadership is not just about the position we hold or the work we do. It is also about who we are, how we treat people, how we handle challenges, and the values we bring into the spaces we lead.

Sometimes, we need to pause from the busy work, look within ourselves, learn from one another, and ask, Am I contributing to the kind of team and institution I want to see?

With positive energy, openness, and a willingness to learn, the team continues the conversation, because great institutions are built by people with strong character.

SEND - SIERRA LEONE
TERRA Projekte International e.V.
Irish Aid
Ireland in Sierra Leone
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs-SL
UNDP in Sierra Leone
UNFPA Sierra Leone
Embassy of Iceland in Freetown