Post-prison Support for 300 Women in Sierra Leone

When we first met Kadie* five years ago she was on trial. Kadie is a single mother and struggled with depression after having to leave her 7-year-old daughter behind. “My daughter is my life,” Kadie always told us, “I am miserable without her.” 

Whilst Kadie was receiving legal aid, our social worker, Fatmata invited her to join an AdvocAid psycho-social session to support her mental health. She benefited greatly from this and began to return to her charismatic self. The other women detained with her soon gave her the nickname ‘AdvocAid’ – an indicator for her enthusiasm and engagement in the sessions conducted by Fatmata. 

After 5 years in detention, Kadie’s case was acquitted and she was discharged to be reunited with her daughter. Two days after her release, she came to the AdvocAid office and was given a post-prison business start-up grant. The next morning, she returned with a cool bag filled to the brim with cooked dishes. As the mouth-watering smells of couscous, rice, chicken, fish, and vegetables filled the air, she explained how she had spent all morning cooking and planned to go from office to office selling her meals. As our social worker Fatmata described, “We were so happy when AdvocAid Kadie came to show us her business. She has come so far since we first met her and is such a proactive individual, I know she will do well.” 

A lack of resources means the government makes no provision for formerly incarcerated women. The lack of support and stigma they face means many women leaving detention in Sierra Leone experience poverty and hardship, putting them at risk of coming back into contact with the law. Thanks to generous donations like yours, AdvocAid can support women’s post-prison rehabilitation and reintegration. On behalf of all the women we work with, thank you. 

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