The Impact Sierra Leone Women, Who Light the Way, especially as The Soul of Christmas Day of Hope

Impact Sierra Leone Women’s Agribusiness Collective at the 2024 Christmas Day of Hope in Foindu Village, Northern Sierra Leone

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members - A quote by Coretta Scott King that reminds us about a group of women from our partner community in Foindu Village, Northern Sierra Leone, who play a pivotal role in our annual Christmas Day of Hope event.

This annual event isn’t just about the gifts, the festive merriment, the barrels, or the hearty Christmas meal, but it’s also about our women- the forty members of the Impact Sierra Leone (ISL) Women’s Agribusiness Collective.  Every year, they don’t just participate as a community; these women ignite the celebration with various electrifying and interesting performances. 

The Impact Sierra Leone Women’s Agribusiness Collective is a group of 40 Women Farmers in Foindu Village born from the belief that economic empowerment begins with the hands that feed, nurture, grow, and build. These Women Farmers who through groundnut farming and sustainable agriculture, have transformed agriculture into a symbol of independence, nutrition, and generational change. But with time and energy, these women are now being trained step by step in becoming more skillful in other areas such as fashion designing, Agribusiness, Tailoring, Quilt making, among others. Actively, building their Vocational Skills Training Center, where more curricula will be set up and they’re launched globally. 

However, let’s talk about their engaging presence as the heartbeat of Christmas Day of Hope. 

Last year, Christmas Day of Hope 2024, these women took the celebration to a whole new level. They divided themselves into four vibrant, joyful, creative groups of ten members each, each choosing a name that reflected their spirit and unity. What started to put smiles on the faces of the underserved became a full-blown activity, including cooking competition between these women, a vibrant showcase of culinary tradition, teamwork, and joy.

Each group wore distinct, expressive, colorful attire, proudly representing their identity and creativity.
The aroma of native dishes filled the air, laughter echoed through the village, and the celebration became more than an event, it became a legacy and the birth of more interesting activities to expect from the Women’s Agribusiness Collective. 

These women carefully thought of this plan and it wasn’t just spontaneous magic. These women reached out to ISL’s CEO, Dr. Adama Kalokoh, through the then-country director, with a clear, bold, and heartfelt vision: they wanted to make the Day of Hope extraordinary. Their initiative led to funding that elevated the entire experience, proof that when women lead, communities rise.

These women play a pivotal role in organizing the meals prepared as well as the program activities, such as the Spelling Bee, African Queen competition, Cultural Dance performances, but most especially curating the most delicious traditional soups from Sierra Leone, such as Groundnut Soup and my favorite, Potato Leaves soup, using organic homegrown ingredients from Sierra Leone.

In Foindu, a woman doesn’t just cook, she coordinates, prepares, and uplifts. She doesn’t just farm—she strategizes, nurtures, and sustains. She doesn’t just show up—she ensures everything is alright, aligned, and alive. These women, in their rural understanding, moved from organizing meals to mentoring youth, from planting seeds to planning events. These women embody resilience, grace, and brilliance. Their strength has evolved bit by bit with a constant approach - steady, radiant, and powerful. Measurable in the following ways: the way they gather, plan, and uplift, turn scarcity into celebration, and hope into transformation.

The exciting part of these events is that as we approach this year’s Christmas Day of Hope, these women are already preparing. They look forward to it, not just as a day of giving, but as a day of belonging. It’s their moment to shine, to lead, and to remind the world that when women are empowered, everything flourishes.

Now, with just two more final, crucial days left in our two-week, heartfelt, community-driven campaign, the energy is electric. Imagine this: receiving gifts not only from your donation, but also from our collection outreach—a beautiful blend of generosity, community, and care. Every contribution adds light, adds joy, adds meaning. Let’s finish strong together and make this year’s Christmas Day of Hope the most radiant one yet.