By Joseph Momoh, Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has launched a skills training initiative targeting women and girls in correctional facilities, with fashion design as a central pillar to promote rehabilitation, economic independence, and social reintegration.
Minister Dr. Isata Mahoi announced the programme during a high-level engagement at a women’s correctional centre, where participants are receiving hands-on training in tailoring and fashion design. The initiative is designed to equip inmates with marketable skills, rebuild self-confidence, and provide viable income opportunities upon release.
“Women and girls in conflict with the law are not beyond redemption,” Dr. Mahoi said. “They deserve dignity, opportunity, and access to skills that can transform their lives.”
The programme forms part of wider government reforms aimed at strengthening protection and support for incarcerated women and girls. According to the minister, the reforms include improved welfare conditions, expanded institutional support systems, and broader access to vocational training across correctional centres.
The initiative was convened by Isha Johansen, former president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, and is being implemented through collaboration between government agencies and private sector partners. Organisers say the project reflects a growing push toward restorative justice and gender-inclusive development.
Chief Minister Dr. Mahoi noted that current efforts under the ministry also include upgrading care standards in correctional facilities and ensuring that rehabilitation remains a national priority. “No woman or girl should be left behind, regardless of circumstance,” she said.
Participants in the programme are trained in garment construction, design techniques, and basic business skills to help them establish small enterprises after serving their sentences. Officials say the model could be replicated in other centres if successful.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring that women and girls in conflict with the law have pathways to growth and reintegration. “Second chances are possible,” Dr. Mahoi said. “With the right support, every woman can rise.”
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