By Josephine Sesay
The Welfare Society for the Disabled Sierra Leone, with support from Trócaire, has officially commissioned the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre in Pujehun District under the TECH-VOC Project initiative.
The landmark event attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including education authorities, Paramount Chiefs, parents, persons with disabilities, regional leaders, media practitioners, and development partners, reflecting strong community ownership and a shared commitment to inclusion and empowerment.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the donor, Rachel Newbray that impactful development extends beyond financial contributions. She noted that true transformation lies in empowering beneficiaries to actively contribute to their communities. According to her, the centre, established in continuation of the legacy of her late husband, is not merely a physical structure but a symbol of inclusion, opportunity, and lasting change.
Located at the Village of Hope, the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre is designed to provide a safe and enabling environment where youths and women with disabilities can acquire practical skills for sustainable and independent living. The facility aims to dismantle barriers, restore dignity, and promote social and economic inclusion.
As part of efforts to enhance accessibility, partners collaborated with Mobility Worldwide Sierra Leone to provide assistive devices, including PET carts and crutches, to students with disabilities, thereby improving their participation in training activities.
Providing an overview of the organisation, Executive Director Josepha Alieu Kamara explained that WESOFOD-SL, established in 2004, is a local non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting disability inclusion nationwide. He noted that the organisation is registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare, district councils in Kambia and Pujehun, the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues, and the Corporate Affairs Commission of Sierra Leone.
He added that WESOFOD-SL’s core mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities through inclusive education, vocational skills training, small-scale enterprise development, advocacy, and social protection initiatives.
Highlighting program achievements, Programs Officer Thomas KJ Lebbie disclosed that since 2018, Trócaire has partnered with WESOFOD-SL to implement empowerment programmes targeting women and youths with disabilities in Kambia and Pujehun districts. He revealed that three vocational training centres have already been established in Kambia District, benefiting 190 individuals with skills in trades such as blacksmithing, soap making, gara tie-dyeing, weaving, and shoemaking, leading to the creation of 190 small-scale enterprises.
At the district level, Mohamed Sillah explained that the newly commissioned Pujehun centre will train 30 youths and women with disabilities in soap making, bead making, and tailoring, while also supporting them to establish income-generating ventures. He noted that the centre will operate as a social enterprise, producing goods for sale at affordable prices to ensure long-term sustainability.
Skills Centre Coordinator Mohamed Alhaji Sheriff expressed appreciation to donors and community stakeholders for their continued support. He assured that the centre will be managed with transparency and accountability, urging trainees to remain committed and instructors to maintain high standards of teaching.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Massah Bangura expressed gratitude to WESOFOD-SL and its partners, noting that the training will empower participants to become self-reliant and productive members of society.
The commissioning of the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre marks a significant step forward in promoting inclusive development and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities in Pujehun District and beyond.
WESOFOD-SL, Trócaire Launch Skills Training Centre to Empower Persons with Disabilities in Pujehun
By Josephine Sesay
The Welfare Society for the Disabled Sierra Leone, with support from Trócaire, has officially commissioned the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre in Pujehun District under the TECH-VOC Project initiative.
The landmark event attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including education authorities, Paramount Chiefs, parents, persons with disabilities, regional leaders, media practitioners, and development partners, reflecting strong community ownership and a shared commitment to inclusion and empowerment.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the donor, Rachel Newbray that impactful development extends beyond financial contributions. She noted that true transformation lies in empowering beneficiaries to actively contribute to their communities. According to her, the centre, established in continuation of the legacy of her late husband, is not merely a physical structure but a symbol of inclusion, opportunity, and lasting change.
Located at the Village of Hope, the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre is designed to provide a safe and enabling environment where youths and women with disabilities can acquire practical skills for sustainable and independent living. The facility aims to dismantle barriers, restore dignity, and promote social and economic inclusion.
As part of efforts to enhance accessibility, partners collaborated with Mobility Worldwide Sierra Leone to provide assistive devices, including PET carts and crutches, to students with disabilities, thereby improving their participation in training activities.
Providing an overview of the organisation, Executive Director Josepha Alieu Kamara explained that WESOFOD-SL, established in 2004, is a local non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting disability inclusion nationwide. He noted that the organisation is registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare, district councils in Kambia and Pujehun, the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues, and the Corporate Affairs Commission of Sierra Leone.
He added that WESOFOD-SL’s core mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities through inclusive education, vocational skills training, small-scale enterprise development, advocacy, and social protection initiatives.
Highlighting program achievements, Programs Officer Thomas KJ Lebbie disclosed that since 2018, Trócaire has partnered with WESOFOD-SL to implement empowerment programmes targeting women and youths with disabilities in Kambia and Pujehun districts. He revealed that three vocational training centres have already been established in Kambia District, benefiting 190 individuals with skills in trades such as blacksmithing, soap making, gara tie-dyeing, weaving, and shoemaking, leading to the creation of 190 small-scale enterprises.
At the district level, Mohamed Sillah explained that the newly commissioned Pujehun centre will train 30 youths and women with disabilities in soap making, bead making, and tailoring, while also supporting them to establish income-generating ventures. He noted that the centre will operate as a social enterprise, producing goods for sale at affordable prices to ensure long-term sustainability.
Skills Centre Coordinator Mohamed Alhaji Sheriff expressed appreciation to donors and community stakeholders for their continued support. He assured that the centre will be managed with transparency and accountability, urging trainees to remain committed and instructors to maintain high standards of teaching.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Massah Bangura expressed gratitude to WESOFOD-SL and its partners, noting that the training will empower participants to become self-reliant and productive members of society.
The commissioning of the Denise Harris Skills Training and Production Centre marks a significant step forward in promoting inclusive development and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities in Pujehun District and beyond.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 1st April 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
