About Girls Connect

Building girls’ power before barriers become crises

We believe empowered girls become empowered women, and empowered women transform communities.

Our story

Founded to act early

Girls Connect Sierra Leone was founded in April 2021 in Makeni as a community-based civil society organization.

We saw that many interventions responded after early marriage, economic dependency, interrupted education or poor menstrual health had already taken hold. We chose a preventive, girl-centered path that builds knowledge, skills and confidence earlier.

Today our work connects climate justice, menstrual hygiene, economic empowerment, legal knowledge and leadership. Programs are co-designed with girls, families, schools, chiefs and public institutions.

Girl-centered

Girls identify problems, shape solutions and lead action.

Community-owned

Families, schools and leaders are engaged from the start.

Rights-based

Legal knowledge and referral pathways turn awareness into agency.

Leadership

Meet our public team

Haja Mariama Bangura

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Ibrahim Sorie Mawiya Jalloh

Head of Programs & Communication

Governance

Registered and accountable

Makeni City Council: MCC/BU/REG/A952
Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs: MSWGCA/NRB/0006
Bombali District Council: REF/BDC/CC/2023-238
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning framework