In a bid to promote gender equality and economic growth, renowned international philanthropist Shalimar Abbiusi has arrived in Sierra Leone. Her mission is to empower women and the less privileged.
As part of her visit, Shalimar met with the leadership of the female caucus of Sierra Leone’s parliament including the Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus President Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa, the longest-serving female Member of Parliament Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay. amongst other key MPs
Discussions were centered on the acclaimed Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act and how women can be empowered to join politics as women lawmakers now account for 30.4% of the elected seats in the Sierra Leone Parliament, up from 14.5% in the previous election.
The surge in women MPs is largely thanks to the GEWE Act signed into law by President Julius Maada Bio which sets a 30% quota of women in parliament, the cabinet, and other institutions.
Women candidates won 41 out of 135 seats up for election. However, only one woman was indirectly elected to the extra 14 seats in the parliament which are reserved for local leaders known as Paramount Chiefs who represent the 14 provincial districts. Overall, the proportion of women who are MPs now stands at 28.2% out of a total of 149 seats, well above the average for West Africa which stands at 18.4% according to the IPU’s regional averages.
The former international pageant winner and journalist Shalimar also met with Sierra Leone’s Minister of State at the office of Vice-President Manty Tarawalli on gender equality matters amongst others.
The philanthropic work began with a visit to the Kroo Bay Community in Freetown, a marginalized community with strong and resilient women willing to make a difference.
During her opening remarks, Shalimar expressed her gratitude to the community for their warm welcome. She praised the resilience and kindness of the Sierra Leoneans, especially women, emphasizing that her platform will amplify their voices and showcase their strength to the world.
Shalimar highlighted the common challenges faced by women globally, including pain and struggles that men often fail to understand. She emphasized that women’s contributions should not be taken for granted, citing their ability to nurture and grow anything they touch.
The women of Kroo Bay Community shared their struggles with Shalimar, including inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, and limited access to education and vocational training.
Fatmata Sessay, a local businesswoman, lamented the poor road conditions that hinder their businesses, while Davida Koroma emphasized the need for empowerment skill training to become self-reliant.
Mariama Bangs, a widow and wood seller, shared her struggles, highlighting how her children rely on her meager earnings.
Shalimar concluded her visit by providing some financial support to the women and promising to return, affectionately referring to Sierra Leone as her “second home” with not just money, but empowerment initiatives like skill training, etc to post self-reliance.
In partnership with the Alex Focus Charity, Shalimar visited some physically challenged individuals to empower them, listen to their needs, and document same for assistance.
Shalimar’s visit is a testament to her commitment to empowering women and promoting gender equality, aligning with the efforts of Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, who has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and empowerment “
