By: Aminata Sesay
Young people in Sierra Leone are being equipped with practical skills in conflict resolution, digital safety and gender equality following a peace ambassador training organised by the Community of Sanitation and Improvement (ComSIL) in Waterloo on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The training, organised under the European Union-funded Peace Voices Project, seeks to strengthen the capacity of young people to promote peaceful coexistence, prevent community conflicts and foster social cohesion at the grassroots level.
The event brought together newly appointed Peace Ambassadors, ComSIL officials, facilitators and other stakeholders to explore practical strategies for addressing conflicts and strengthening relationships within communities.
Welcoming participants, Project Lead Gibrilla Kamara said the initiative was designed to address everyday challenges affecting communities while promoting locally driven approaches to conflict prevention. He stressed the importance of empowering young people to contribute meaningfully to sustainable peacebuilding, particularly in rural communities.
Lead Facilitator Mualim Kamara facilitated sessions on digital safety, peacebuilding and conflict resolution, highlighting the growing threat misinformation poses to social cohesion. He urged participants to recognize their responsibility in countering misleading information and promoting responsible engagement across digital platforms.
Addressing gender equality and online safety, Saidu Wurie Jalloh highlighted gender disparities, equal opportunities and practical measures to prevent digital harassment. He emphasised the need to create safer and more inclusive online spaces.
Chairman Grafton Foday Fornah commended ComSIL for its continued investment in young people at the community level, describing peace as essential to national unity, social cohesion and sustainable development.
Participants also engaged in group discussions facilitated by ComSIL Advocacy Officer Adama Timbo, focusing on community-based peacebuilding, conflict prevention, online safety challenges and the promotion of gender equality.
The discussions provided participants with practical knowledge and approaches to strengthening community relationships, promoting peaceful coexistence and establishing locally driven mechanisms for resolving disputes.
Through the Peace Voices Project, ComSIL aims to establish a network of young Peace Ambassadors equipped to promote dialogue, prevent conflicts and encourage inclusive participation in their respective communities.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen grassroots peacebuilding and promote peaceful, inclusive and resilient communities across Sierra Leone.