Pujehun District, Saturday, November 8th, 2025: The Speaker of the Girls’ Parliament in Pujehun District, Michaella Hawa Jah, and the Deputy Speaker, Mariama Fortune, attended the United Team Sierra Leone (U Team SL) Conference held in Pujehun District under the theme: “Transforming From District to National – The Role of Youth in Nation Building.” Their participation at this landmark gathering underscored the importance of amplifying girls’ voices in decision-making, reducing teenage pregnancy and child marriage, and advancing youth-led transformation in Sierra Leone.
The Girls’ Parliament Pujehun District was established by U Team SL as a parental organization with support from UNFPA and the Ministry of Youth Affairs through the Young Women Leading Change Innovation Challenge Project. Its mission is to empower girls to take leadership roles, advocate for their rights, and contribute meaningfully to national progress.
In their joint engagements, Speaker Michaella Hawa Jah and Deputy Speaker Mariama Fortune commended U Team SL for its bold vision and mission to transform Pujehun District into a model of inclusive growth and national relevance. They emphasized that the empowerment of girls is central to sustainable development, stressing that no nation can achieve progress without ensuring equal opportunities for women and girls.
“Girls must be part of the conversation, part of the decisions, and part of the solutions. Our presence here today is a reminder that the future of Sierra Leone depends on empowering its daughters as much as its sons. Together, we can break barriers, reduce teenage pregnancy, end child marriage, and build a society where every girl has the chance to thrive,” they affirmed.
The Girls’ Parliament leaders reaffirmed their serious commitment to supporting the mission and vision of U Team SL, pledging to collaborate with the organization in advancing programs that promote education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and child protection. They stressed that volunteerism must be embraced as a civic duty, noting that collective action by citizens is essential for peace, unity, and sustainable progress.
They further highlighted the importance of partnerships between youth-led organizations, civil society, and government institutions, noting that girls’ empowerment must be integrated into district and national development plans. “Transformation begins at the grassroots, but it must extend to national platforms. Girls must be seen not only as beneficiaries of development but as leaders shaping the future of Sierra Leone,” they remarked.
The Girls’ Parliament also acknowledged the challenges facing Pujehun District, noting that the conference provided a platform for honest dialogue and collective solutions. They encouraged descendants of the district, leaders, and stakeholders to unite behind U Team SL’s Six-Year Strategic Development Plan (SDP 2024–2030), which envisions Pujehun as a hub of resilience, innovation, and youth-led transformation.
Concluding their participation, Speaker Michaella Hawa Jah and Deputy Speaker Mariama Fortune issued a powerful call to action: “Let us unite behind the promise of a better future for Pujehun District and Sierra Leone. Let us embrace volunteerism, strengthen peace, and champion unity. Together, we can transform dreams into reality and ensure that the story of Pujehun becomes a beacon of hope and progress for the entire nation.”
