Hello - it’s Kirsty here.

I’ve just returned from Sierra Leone, where I spent seven packed days with our team - meeting young mothers, visiting communities, and listening to stories of courage, grit, resilience and change. As always, I came away inspired by the work happening every day on the ground - led by a team deeply committed to helping young mothers build brighter futures for themselves and their children.

I wanted to share just a few highlights from the trip - I hope they inspire you as much as they did me. Thank you for your support in making this, and so much more, possible.

*Young mothers at the Circle of Confidence event*

Circle of Confidence - A Space to be Seen and Heard

We began our visit in Bo at the Circle of Confidence — a monthly gathering of young mothers, including some who have now graduated from the project. It’s a space to speak freely, reflect, and celebrate how far they’ve come.

This trip was special — I brought my six-year-old daughter, Elsie, back to Sierra Leone for the first time since she was a baby. She’s grown up hearing about the girls — and they had a surprise waiting for her.

Wearing raffia skirts and bright lappas, the girls performed a welcome dance just for her. ‘Our skirts show our culture,’ one explained. ‘When we dance, we feel joy.’

We listened to stories of strength and determination — like the young woman who was forced to drop out of school and thought she’d never return. Now, with AdAmi’s support, she’s preparing for her school-leaving exams. ‘Use your two hands and two feet,’ she told the group, ‘to hold onto this opportunity.’

‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ asked our social worker Ami.

‘It is wonderful,’ the girls replied in unison.

These circles are more than just meetings - they’re moments of visibility, affirmation and pride. Girls reflect not only on how far they’ve come, but what’s possible for one another.

Home and School Visits - Young Mothers Balancing it All

We also spent time in schools and homes, catching up with some of the young mothers on the programme.

At a school in Bo, we met Hana — quiet and shy, standing in uniform outside her classroom. She’s just 16, but already raising her son Joseph. She became a mother at 14. Her partner abandoned her, and her mother sent her away. For a year, she sold hot pap (a local porridge) on the streets to survive.

When a nurse referred her to the project, Hana had already started rebuilding her relationship with her mum. We helped her return to school — and supported her mum with a business grant to help cover daily costs.

Now in Junior Secondary School Class 2, Hana is studying hard, raising her son, and dreaming of becoming a nurse. ‘I like watching Nigerian movies,’ she said with a smile. ‘And I love our local pop band Black for Conscience - they know how to sing!’

Life is still tough, but she’s hopeful - and determined.

Messie’s journey is another reminder of what’s possible. When we met her, she was malnourished, withdrawn, and overworked. Living with her aunt, she’d been pushed out of school and made to sell food all day, while her cousins went to class.

With support from the team - and some hard conversations - her aunt agreed to let her return to school. A small business grant helped ease financial strain, and slowly, trust began to grow. Now, Messie is back in education. Her aunt helps with childcare, and their relationship has shifted from resentment to care. ‘She used to act like an old woman,’ said her social worker, Andreta. ‘Now she’s strong, smiling, and thinking about her future.’

Baoma Network - Planting Seeds and Growing Futures

Out in Baoma, the local girls’ network is thriving. Under the leadership of our wonderful local team member Doris, the group has transformed a piece of donated land into a working groundnut farm. What began as a small pilot has become a powerful example of what’s possible when young women are trusted to lead.

The girls are involved in every part of the work - planting, harvesting, selling, and reinvesting. Last year, profits helped ten girls return to school. This year, they’re hoping to do even more.

We stood with them in the sun - watching as they dug and planted, laughing and focused. ‘This farm feeds our families,’ said Musa, from our local partner MEANS. ‘But it also feeds our dreams.’

*Learning to make rugs during craft week*

The Enterprise - Crafting Skills and Confidence

Back in Bo, the social enterprise shop is buzzing. Over the past week, the tailors and our three peer mentors have taken part in an intensive training on how to make notebooks, bags and doormats using locally available materials.

These aren’t just craft items - they are products with purpose. The girls are learning not only how to make, but how to cost, sell and grow their skills into something sustainable.

‘I sew, I sell, I support my children,’ said Hawa. ‘I want to train others. This place gives us pride.’

Hawa is one of many young mothers helping shape the future of the enterprise. Her quiet determination and attention to detail have made her a role model to others — and a reminder that growth is possible even in the toughest circumstances.

*Andreta (right) with AdAmi graduate and now paid peer mentor, Nancy*

The Women Behind the Work

So much of this is only possible because of the women holding it all together. Like Andreta, our senior social worker: ‘This work is about giving love where there has been rejection. That’s what changes lives.’

She is right. The AdAmi project is about more than education or income. It’s about dignity — helping young mothers regain a sense of control over their choices, their futures, and their place in the world. As one young mother put it: ‘When I got pregnant, my family left me. But now AdAmi and these girls have become my family.’

Thank you for being part of this. Your support means the world to the young mothers and communities we support.

Kirsty

P.S. If you'd like to support more young mothers like Hana, Messie and Bintu, you can donate to the project here. Every contribution - big or small - makes a real difference. Thank you!

Stories and Updates from Bo