By Emma Black

April 25, 2025 the old Fourah Bay College, a cherished Sierra Leone landmark, is being restored through a project led by the Commonwealth Heritage Forum, West African Heritage Consultants, Freetown City Council, and the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. On April 1, 2025, 20 young Sierra Leoneans four women and 16 men began a three-week training in cast iron restoration,

The training, held at the historic site, focused on reviving the college’s architecture while teaching youth skills for heritage conservation. This effort aims to preserve history and create jobs, per Freetown City Council plans.

On Saturday, April 19, a graduation ceremony celebrated the trainees’ success. Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE attended, calling the project a dream come true this training builds our future, she said, praising Madam Isatu Smith for leading the initiative, Alex Coode for his expertise, and Ing Trudy Morgan for her support, per event reports.

The mayor linked the project to her transform Freetown agenda, which promotes youth jobs and heritage tourism, alongside climate action, digital economy, and human development, per 2025 council records. She gave certificates to all 20 trainees, urging them to use their new skills to grow.