WOFHRAD (Women's Forum for Human Rights And Democracy) is actively empowering women candidates in Bombali through various training sessions. The most recent session occurred on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023, at the Makeni City Council Hall.
What distinguishes this training from previous projects is its funding, provided by World Vision. This initiative specifically targets female candidates across six districts: Karene, Western Area Rural, Kono, Western Area Urban, and Pujehun.
Suard Henrietta Koroma, a candidate running for the councillor position at the Bombali District Council under the All People's Congress ticket, expressed gratitude to WOFHRAD and its partners for providing this empowering platform. She highlighted that the absence of such training sessions in the past has discouraged women from engaging in politics, stating, "It has helped other female candidates overcome the fear of public speaking, which has been a significant barrier for many."
Esther Hawa Conteh, a candidate for Member of Parliament from the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party, emphasized one of the unique aspects of these training sessions. They provide a platform for interaction among female candidates from different political parties.
Conteh shared, "The sessions have been highly interactive. We come together on a common platform and learn from each other's experiences and challenges. This greatly helps us, particularly in Bombali, where we aim to change people's perception and encourage them to make informed voting decisions."
Emilia Kamara-Jengo, the Co-founder and Programs Coordinator of WOFHRAD, emphasized that the primary objective of these sessions is to ensure that successful female candidates work in the best interests of their constituents. She urged voters in the upcoming June 24th elections to support female candidates, stating, "While some women elected in the past may not have met our expectations, we should not judge all female candidates based on that. We have women candidates with integrity who are dedicated to upholding the trust they have built over the years. Let us give women the opportunity to showcase their leadership qualities and create positive change for the greater good."