By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
The Kids Advocacy Network – Sierra Leone has officially launched the application process for the Light-Her Path Scholarship Project, a major education empowerment initiative aimed at providing financial support, mentorship and learning resources for in-school and out-of-school girls. The launch event was held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Africell American Corner on Bathurst Street in Freetown.
The Light-Her Path Scholarship Project seeks to ensure that no girl is left behind due to socio-economic challenges. It promotes education as a transformative force capable of breaking cycles of poverty, gender inequality and exclusion, while equipping young women with the tools to become leaders, innovators and agents of socio-economic change.
Executive Director of Kids Advocacy Network, Edmond Alim B. Fornah, described the initiative as a long-term effort to empower girls beyond traditional scholarship models. He said the project will provide direct tuition support and structured mentorship opportunities with accomplished women leaders, including those from the “50 Most Influential Women” platform, to strengthen leadership, confidence and self-esteem among beneficiaries.
He explained that the scholarship is need-based, targeting girls and young women aged 16 to 25 who demonstrate a commitment to education and personal development, passion for community service and require financial assistance to pursue formal or technical education. The program will support both academic and vocational training pathways such as tailoring, soap-making and cake-making to open diverse routes to empowerment.
He added that a multi-stakeholder selection committee made up of academics, women’s rights advocates and private-sector executives will oversee the beneficiary selection process. The committee, chaired by a university lecturer and gender activist, Madam Fatu Taqi, includes representatives from women’s forums, higher education institutions, Parliament, financial bodies and the sports sector.
Announcing initial funding support, the Executive Director revealed that Hon. Sidi Mohamed Tunis, former Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, had donated $20,000 to kick-start the initiative, with additional contributions expected, as the first Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, has also committed to the project. He encouraged eligible applicants to submit their materials through the official online application form.
Special guest Delicia Boyle-Kikulwe, a contestant in the upcoming Housemates Salone Season 4, highlighted the power of education in transforming lives, stating that it goes beyond grades and certificates. She urged young women to view education as a lifelong skill that fosters confidence, critical thinking and independence. As a mother of three and a university student, Delicia Boyle-Kikulwe encouraged applicants to overcome self-doubt and take bold steps toward self-empowerment. She also expressed her commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s development and called on citizens both at home and abroad to invest in the country’s future through education.
Madam Fatu Taqi, Chairperson of the Selection Committee, outlined the selection process, noting that a 13-member committee will rigorously review applications to ensure that scholarships go to the most deserving candidates. She said the initiative aims to “light the path” for girls by providing visibility, opening doors and creating access to opportunities. The number of beneficiaries and scholarship amounts will be announced after the application period closes.
Madam Fatu Taqi commended the donors and organizers for mobilizing resources to make the project a reality. She called on men and community members to encourage eligible girls to apply and to share the information widely, emphasizing that the scholarship’s ultimate goal is to create lasting impact in the lives of young women across Sierra Leone.
Eligibility criteria include:
For In-School Girls:
- Must be enrolled in tertiary education.
- From a low-income or vulnerable household.
- Must demonstrate academic potential and leadership qualities.
- Faces financial or social barriers to education.
For Out-of-School Girls:
- Aged 16 to 25 years.
- Must have dropped out or never attended formal schooling.
- Expresses interest in returning to school.
- Comes from a disadvantaged background.
Applications are open from October 24, 2025 to November 14, 2025, and can be submitted via the link: https://forms.gle/FfWWM2qonz4D7Vms8
The Light-Her Path Scholarship Project marks another milestone in the Kids Advocacy Network’s ongoing commitment to promoting gender equity and expanding educational access for young women across Sierra Leone.
