By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Amazonian Initiative Movement Sierra Leone (AIM-SL), with support from N’ninkie and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), on Saturday, January 24, 2026, officially launched the construction of a state-of-the-art vocational and skills training centre in Maforki Chiefdom, Port Loko District.
The project, which will comprise three classrooms, a conference hall, and other essential facilities, is designed to empower women and girls through skills development and sustainable livelihood training. It forms part of broader efforts to strengthen human capital, promote economic independence, and build resilient rural communities.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Madam Rugiatu Neneh Turay, an award-winning human rights activist, development campaigner, and Founder of AIM-SL, described the centre as a transformative intervention for women and girls in rural areas.
She explained that the facility would offer tailored vocational training, mentorship, and adult education opportunities, enabling women to acquire employable skills, improve their livelihoods, and participate meaningfully in community decision-making.
“This centre is about restoring dignity and building self-reliance,” Madam Turay said. “When women are equipped with skills, they gain confidence, independence, and the ability to support their families. This is how we build strong communities.”
She further noted that the project would help protect women from exploitation by providing alternatives to unsafe and informal work. She urged women to abandon practices that do not bring economic or social benefit, including harmful traditional practices that continue to undermine their wellbeing.
“Practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) have no economic or social value. Instead, women should invest their time and energy in skills that bring dignity, income, and respect,” she stressed.
Providing an overview of the project, Mr. Samuel Mansaray-Pearce, Programme Development and Quality Assurance Officer at AIM-SL, explained that women and girls in Port Loko District face significant barriers to accessing vocational education, particularly school dropouts and those from low-income households.
He noted that limited access to training opportunities has long constrained economic growth in the area, which informed AIM-SL’s decision supported by BMZ through PefferminGreen to construct the vocational centre.
“The goal is to empower women and girls with practical, marketable skills that promote self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods,” he said. “This centre will create opportunities for education, income generation, and long-term economic stability.”
The construction contract has been awarded to Giftmed Construction and Engineering Services, with completion scheduled for May 31, 2026. The facility will include three classrooms, a conference hall, office space, a kitchen, three toilets, an assembly stage, and a hand pump.
Training programmes to be offered at the centre will include gara tie-dyeing, tailoring, agriculture, soap making, bread baking, village savings and loans schemes, driving, and hairdressing each designed to equip women with employable and income-generating skills.
Delivering the keynote address, the wife of the Paramount Chief of Maforki Chiefdom, Chief Ya Bomposeh Bai Forki Fenkai, commended Madam Turay and AIM-SL for their unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment.
She described the vocational centre as a landmark initiative that will significantly improve the lives of women and girls by enabling them to become economically independent. She also assured the community of continued monitoring to ensure the project’s successful completion and sustainability.
The Resident Minister for the North West Region also praised the initiative and urged women across Port Loko District to take full ownership of the centre, describing it as a rare opportunity for long-term development.
Other speakers at the event echoed similar sentiments, calling for collective responsibility, community support, and timely completion of the project to ensure it delivers its intended impact.
The Masterpiece Vocational Centre stands as a strong example of how targeted investment in women and skills development can drive sustainable change and transform rural communities.