In the lead-up to the historic 2023 Multi-Tier Elections in Sierra Leone, the Young Women in Democracy Forum (YWDF), under the leadership of the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) and with support from Open Society Initiative for Africa (OSIA), launched a transformative initiative to ensure that young women were not just bystanders—but active architects of change.
The Regional Electoral Education and Awareness-Raising Outreach was a nationwide campaign designed to equip young women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage meaningfully in the democratic process.
“Democracy is not complete without the full participation of young women. We are not just voters—we are leaders, advocates, and nation-builders.”
— YWDF Members, 2023 Leadership Training
Reaching All Five Regions: A National Movement
To ensure inclusivity and geographic equity, YWDF conducted outreach sessions in five key locations across Sierra Leone:
Waterloo (Western Area)
Bo (Southern Region)
Kenema (Eastern Region)
Makeni (Northern Region)
Port Loko (Northwest Region)
Each session brought together 50 young women, totaling 250 participants from diverse backgrounds, all united by a shared vision: to make their voices count.
Guided by the theme “Making Young Women’s Voices Count in the 2023 Multi-Tier Elections in Sierra Leone,” the outreach was more than just voter education—it was a movement to reclaim space, build agency, and inspire leadership.
