26/06/2026
Celebrating 20 Years
"Two Decades of Empowering Women and Girls, Defending Rights, and Strengthening Democracy."
As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Women's Forum for Human Rights and Democracy (WOFHRAD) under the inspiring theme, "Two Decades of Empowering Women and Girls, Defending Rights, and Strengthening Democracy," we are reminded that this remarkable journey has never been one we walked alone. Every milestone we celebrate today has been made possible through the trust, partnership, generosity, and unwavering support of many institutions and individuals who believed in our vision and stood with us through every challenge and every success.
We pay special tribute to The Fatima Institute, now the University of Makeni (UNIMAK), the place where the dream of WOFHRAD was born. It was within those walls that Madam Isha Kanu Moriba, our Founder, and I, Emilia Kamara-Jengo, Co-Founder, envisioned an organization that would champion the rights, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls in Sierra Leone. We remain forever grateful to the institution that nurtured the beginnings of this remarkable journey and helped shape a vision that continues to transform lives today.
Our sincere appreciation goes to ActionAid Sierra Leone, a steadfast partner since 2012. Your consistent support, solidarity, and belief in our mission have enabled us to strengthen communities, amplify women's voices, and advance gender equality across Sierra Leone.
We are deeply grateful to Trócaire, whose confidence in WOFHRAD led to our first institutional funding in 2017. That investment marked a defining moment in our organizational growth, strengthening our capacity and expanding our reach to empower more women and girls across the country.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to We Are Purposeful, World Vision Sierra Leone, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Your partnership has enriched our programmes, strengthened our impact, and enabled us to respond to the evolving needs of women, girls, and communities with innovation, compassion, and purpose.
We proudly acknowledge the many networks, coalitions, and alliances that WOFHRAD has established, led, and actively participated in over the past two decades. Together, we have raised our collective voices, influenced policies, strengthened civic engagement, and demonstrated that collaboration is one of the greatest forces for sustainable social change and democratic development.
Our profound gratitude goes to the Bombali District Council and the Makeni City Council for their collaboration and commitment to advancing local governance, women's leadership, and community development. Your partnership has enabled us to reach communities with programmes that have created lasting change.
We also salute our partners in the media, whose dedication to responsible journalism has amplified the voices of women and girls, promoted human rights, challenged harmful norms, and contributed significantly to public awareness and democratic discourse throughout Sierra Leone.
To our fellow civil society organizations, thank you for your solidarity, collaboration, and shared commitment to justice, equality, democracy, and human rights. Together, we have stood stronger, spoken louder, and achieved far more than any one organization could have accomplished alone.
Finally, to every Donor partner, Board Member, volunteer, community leader, traditional and religious authority, government institution especially the Ministry of Gender, friend, and supporters of WOFHRAD who has walked this journey with us over the last twenty years thank you for believing in our vision and investing in our mission. Your partnership has not only strengthened our organization but has transformed the lives of countless women, girls, families, and communities across Sierra Leone.
As we celebrate Two Decades of Empowering Women and Girls, Defending Rights, and Strengthening Democracy, we do so with immense pride in what we have achieved together and with renewed determination for the future. The work continues, and we look ahead with hope, stronger partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to building a Sierra Leone where every woman and girl can live with dignity, exercise her rights, realize her full potential, and contribute meaningfully to a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive society.
Thank you for being part of our story. Thank you for believing in our mission. Thank you for helping make twenty years of impact possible. Together, we will continue to empower, defend, and strengthen for generations to come.
Emilia Kamara Jengo
