Birght Start-Sierra Leone works with youth in underserved communities in Sierra Leone to equip them with skills to earn and lead in an ever changing global world.
Bright Start-Sierra Leone (BSSL) was founded in 2022 by Ishmail Barrie and Linda Vakunta with the goal of equipping young people with labour-market, in-demand skills to earn and lead. The work was born our of earlier educational efforts by Ishmail Barrie. Ishmail founded a primary and secondary school in 2014 that operated until 2020. That school served over 220 primary and secondary students, with physical space and capacity being the main barrier to higher attendance. Linda and Ishmail have worked together on several other programs in Sierra Leone, including after school programs, a vocational training program for Ebola survivors, renovation of health facilities, and coordination and implementation of health research projects. Both founders combined have over 25 years of experience in community improvement initiatives, youth development and health research.
Bright Start-Sierra Leone was a response from requests from the community for an institution that focused on training young people in skills that would allow them to economically sustain themselves and support their families as well as contribute to the community’s development. This emerge during BSSL’s participation in the “Education Interrupted” Incubator put on by Y-Labs and PLAN INTERNATIONAL. Bright Start-Sierra Leone’s proposal to develop a training institution where young people’s voices and contributions were centered caught the judges attention. BSSL was chosen out of several applications from Sierra Leone and Ghana.
Thus, at it’s core- Bright Start-Sierra Leone’s work critically centers the contributions from that youth action research and beyond.
Our mission is to help equip young people with in-demand, labour needed skills that allows them to earn and lead in their communities.
We focus on building authentic long term relationship with the youth themselves, employers and community members to advance this mission.
We also center young people who are disadvantaged by economics, gender, disability or other societal markers.
We focus on training, mentorship and providing support post training as they embark on employment search or other income generating efforts.
We draw on local resources and partnerships as well as national and global partners.
Bright Start-Sierra Leone incubator members with PLAN INTERNATIONAL-SIERRA LEONE with other cohort members.
Meet the passionate individuals driving change at Bright Start Sierra Leone. Learn more about our dedicated team of professionals committed to empowering young leaders and transforming communities.
Contact Bright Start-Sierra Leone: brightstartsalone@gmail.com
Birght Start-Sierra Leone works with youth in underserved communities in Sierra Leone to equip them with skills to earn and lead in an ever changing global world.
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