For over 40 years we have worked to help vulnerable people step out of poverty and build resilient livelihoods. With help from our loyal supporters, over 22,000 people have joined our training projects, graduated in a trade, and built themselves a brighter future.
Now, as we head into a difficult winter with costs rising across the globe, our thoughts turn to communities where opportunities to succeed are limited and trainees are facing increased economic pressure.
Your donation this Christmas will help more people join our vocational training projects and graduate with skills they can use to start earning an income.
Isatu is 32 years old. She lives in Bo City in Sierra Leone, and like most women in her community, she has had a lot of barriers to overcome. Isatu was unable to finish her formal schooling and, like 30% of girls in Sierra Leone, was a victim of child marriage. She is the sole earner in her household and has three young children to care for.
In April 2022 things started to change for Isatu. She joined a project with our partner, Craftshare, who provide an onsite nursery, school, and childcare options to enable young mothers to attend training. Isatu is now halfway through a one-year course in hairdressing and is striving to make a better life for herself and her family.
"Before I came to Craftshare I was confused and I didn't know what to do with my life. I was not in a good place. Now I am useful. I have skills and I have a purpose."
Isatu Idrissa Kamara
Isatu is an entrepreneur at heart and is determined to build her own business. She is already practicing her hairdressing skills on her friends and family, showcasing her work as she begins to build a customer base in her community. As her business grows, she wants to use her future profits to employ others and help them get the support she has benefited from. She said
"I am here to succeed. And when I do, I will call my hair salon 'Sucess'."
Isatu knows that many young women in Sierra Leone face barriers to success, and that projects like this are a lifeline. With you by their side, more women can lean a trade and graduate equipped with the business skills and the confidence they need to stand on their own two feet.
A gift of£50 could fund two new hairdressing starter kits
A gift of £25could help remove barriers for women by providing meals and childcare throughout training
A gift of £15 per month could fund a trainee hairdresser for their entire project training
If you can, please give a gift today.
With warmest wishes
Sarah Ingleby Chief Executive
P.S. All the tools we send to projects are donated in the UK and refurbished by our team of dedicated by volunteers. If you've given tools, you've helped trainees to get started - thank you.
