By Kadijatu Bangura
Freetown, 26 March 2026 The Ministry of Youth Affairs has officially sealed a transformative partnership with Caritas to implement the ELEVATE Project, a major youth-readiness program designed to address the complex challenges facing Sierra Leone’s youth at risk. The initiative focuses especially on young people living in drug zones, including those affected by drug addiction, unemployment, and social vulnerability.
The partnership was not formed overnight. For months, Minister of Youth Affairs Ibrahim Sannoh has been personally engaging communities where young people are severely affected by substance abuse. He has visited ghettos and spoken directly with youth living in drug zones, while also holding consultations with organizations working on rehabilitation and youth development. Officials said these engagements revealed the need for a coordinated and professional intervention capable of treating, empowering, and transforming young lives leading to the launch of the ELEVATE Project.
The program will be implemented in phases. The first and most crucial phase focuses on *psychotherapy and mental rehabilitation, including counselling, emotional support, behavioural therapy, and confidence rebuilding to ensure beneficiaries are mentally and emotionally ready to move into the next stages of change. After this component, participants will transition into *skills development and economic empowerment, covering vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and livelihood opportunities tailored to their interests and strengths. Reintegration support will also be provided to help young people rebuild relationships with their families and communities.
Earlier today, Minister Sannoh and his team visited a group of young people battling drug addiction in Hamilton, one of the communities most affected by the crisis. During the visit, the Minister underscored that the ELEVATE Project is not merely another government program, but a lifeline intended to rescue, rebuild, and restore young people who have been abandoned or written off by society. He urged the youth to take the opportunity seriously and view it as a chance to rewrite their stories.
The Minister assured them that the Government is committed to supporting their transformation journey at every step, providing not only therapy and skills training, but also mentorship, follow-up support, and pathways to sustainable livelihood.
The ELEVATE Project, officials said, represents a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s effort to save its youth at risk offering healing, hope, and a genuine opportunity for renewal.
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