September 30, 2021
By: Ilyasa Baa
Women and girls in Sierra Leone are beneficiaries to the mentorship skills and leadership trainings provided by Mirror Africa, a nonprofit making organization.
This film making organization has trained youths in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo and the Gambia. Its founder and Executive Director, Simeonette Uwanie Pontis’s passion is to see young people tell their stories especially women and girls in crisis. Having been a trained film maker with International awards for short fictional and documentary films, Simeonette has touched the lives of girls in reproductive health and human rights campaigns, mentorship skills and leadership advocacy on issues affecting girls. “Violence against women and girls is alarming, that is why I am stepping up to ensure that their stories are told and heard”, said Ms. Pontis. She noted that due to the Covid pandemic, they have relied on using online platforms to do interviews with women and girls. She is also part of Salone Messenger which is a global multimedia Public Relations firm that brings young energetic leaders, bloggers, activists and story tellers together to tell human interest stories using smartphones.
She is currently the Vice President of Young African Leaders Initiative Alumni S/L Chapter and formerly, the Manager at 232 Complex. She has knowledge in advocacy and communications having graduated from the Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 2013. Before she proceeded to the university, Ms. Pontis had attended the Annie Walsh Memorial Secondary School in Freetown. She had worked as a presenter and DJ for one of the community radio stations and was moderating kiddies programs as well.
Simeonnette Pontis had displayed versatility by working in the banking sector where she worked as Business Development Officer.