also knows that when the community understand that they have human rights which are protected by the law, this can give them and their advocates the confidence and power to voice their concerns and get the changes that are needed.  Driven by their experiences, we advocate, research and influence policy and practice.  We also provide advocacy support through well-trained and highly motivated individual’s expert knowledge to professionals, parents and carers and young people through our Community Engagement Forum (CEF). 

 We are as well committed to the central advocacy principles of confidentiality, best interests and empowerment through our online platform i.e. Facebook and whatsAp -resources. We provide support to train and actively engage on human rights advocacy, community outreach work and publications.

Problem: Currently, people with mental illness in Sierra Leone are believed to be evil, violent, lazy, stupid, and unable to marry or have children and unfit to vote. Mental illness is seen as either brought upon oneself as punishment for certain actions such as the breaking of taboos, or as being cast upon someone by spells and witchcraft.

In Sierra Leone, children and women with disabilities are one of the most marginalised and excluded groups, experiencing widespread violations of their rights. Discrimination and stigmatization arises not as a result of the intrinsic nature of children’s disability, but rather, as a consequence of lack of understanding and knowledge of its causes and implications, fear of difference, fear of contagion or contamination, or negative religious or cultural views of disability. It is further compounded by poverty, social isolation, humanitarian emergencies, lack of services and support, and a hostile and inaccessible environment.