Post-prison Support for 300 Women in Sierra Leone

When women in Sierra Leone come into contact with the law, it often has negative repercussions: they experience a breakdown in communication with their families and loved ones, as well as a loss of their financial resources. Upon their release from prison, they must start afresh in rebuilding their lives. Oftentimes, any enterprise or relationship they had before incarceration has been entirely destroyed.

At AdocAid, we are dedicated to assisting these women in rebuilding their life to prevent them from returning to the cycle of poverty, a key factor contributing to incarceration. AdvocAid is committed to empowering and providing assistanceduring their whole reintegration journey, starting from the moment of arrest until their release. Support includes providing transport expenses and training to prepare women for a successful reintegration with their families and communities.

In November 2023 we conducted a training session in Freetown for formerly incarcerated women from towns and villages includingBo, Kabala, Kenema, Makeni, and Freetown. 40 formerly incarcerated women attended at the training sessions run by AdvocAid's programme officers. The training covered several themes such as understanding business strategy, analysing the business environment, discovering market gaps, and identifying target customers. The women were especially delighted with the session on business planning, as numerous individuals stated their aspiration to initiate their own enterprises.

Some of the training topics included skills in baking, tie-dyeing, and cosmetology/beauty. These practical skills will not only facilitate their personal growth but also offer them a means to sustain themselves financially.
During the sessions,we learned about the various difficulties and obstacles they encounter when starting entrepreneurial endeavours. One such difficulty is that the absence of financial independence, increases the vulnerability of women to violence, ultimately resulting in their imprisonment.
AdvocAid's primary objective, following our intervention in cases of unfair arrest, is to provide formerly incarcerated women with the necessary resources and expertise to flourish in society, disrupt the pattern of imprisonment, and achieve financial autonomy. Through the provision of services like transportation, skills development/training, and welfare assistance we are supporting these women’s future.

Thank you for your continued support towards this work.