01/01/2026
Honoring Our Partners, Volunteers, and the Power of Collaboration
By the Founder and CEO
As we bring this year to a close, I extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the growth and impact of the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Leone (BGCSL). This year has clearly demonstrated the power of shared vision, commitment, and collaboration in serving children and youth across our communities.
I first wish to acknowledge the leadership, mentorship, and governance that continue to anchor our mission. To our Board of Directors, thank you for your selfless service and dedication to overseeing our work. To my co-founder, Martha Sellu of Canada, I am deeply grateful for your leadership, guidance, and unwavering belief in this mission. Your stewardship has been instrumental in shaping BGCSL from vision to reality. I also extend my profound gratitude to my mentor, Dr. Patricia Essilfie, Founder and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Ghana, whose guidance, experience, and consistent counsel continue to inspire my leadership and strengthen our work across the region.
I extend heartfelt thanks to our management and leadership team, whose dedication drives our daily impact. I sincerely appreciate Franklyn Alusine Sesay, Country Director, who is always willing and ready to go the extra mile to ensure BGCSL remains a unifying force in service delivery. I also commend Mohaned Ishamiel Fofanah, Program Director and Head of Information Technology, whose leadership and creativity in our computer program have attracted the attention of other Boys and Girls Clubs across Africa, as well as the World Youth Club, reflecting the growing impact and credibility of our work. I further recognize Wisdom Bryant, Director of Organizational Development and Strategic Partnerships, for your unwavering commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, and Solomon Sellu, Chief Financial Officer, for your consistent professionalism, discipline, and tireless service.
I gratefully acknowledge our partnership with People’s Choice, whose engagement and support are making a clear difference as BGCSL students learn basic computer skills. This partnership is strengthening digital literacy and opening new pathways for learning and opportunity.
I offer special appreciation to our volunteers, whose commitment sustains our programs. Your selfless service, consistency, and dedication make our work possible, and your contributions remain vital to our success and to the positive outcomes we see in the lives of the children and youth we serve.
I express sincere gratitude to our education partners and the families who place their trust in us. To our education partners, especially Mr. Joshua Tucker, the outgoing Principal of Bishop Johnson Memorial School, and the incoming Principal, thank you for your continued collaboration and support. To all participating students, you are the reason we exist. To your parents, guardians, and support systems, thank you for standing with your children and trusting BGCSL every step of the way.
I look ahead with optimism to future alliances that advance inclusion and shared purpose. We anticipate forming an alliance with Blessed 2BA Blessing, the brainchild of Minister Glenna Moseray, an organization doing outstanding work with the Milton Margai School for the Blind and the Deaf. Our constructive conversations have highlighted shared values and a strong commitment to inclusive education and youth empowerment.
I also recognize the value of global partnerships and continental collaboration. I extend my appreciation to Mr. Tim Richardson of the World Youth Club for his constant guidance and consultation across the African continent, as well as to all organizations with whom we have formed alliances.
I conclude by thanking the institutional and government partners who enable our work to thrive with integrity. I express sincere gratitude to the Freetown City Council, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, and the Sierra Leone Police for granting us clearance and supporting our lawful operations. Your cooperation and oversight enable BGCSL to operate, grow, and serve with transparency and accountability.
To everyone who has walked this journey with the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Leone, thank you. Together, we have built a strong foundation, and we look forward with confidence to doing even greater things in the days ahead.
Wishing you all a prosperous New Year.
