Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE on Thursday, 4 December 2025, officially launched the construction of the new Susan’s Bay Care Block, a purpose-built facility designed to ease the heavy burden of unpaid care work carried predominantly by women and girls in the capital.
Joined by Councillors and staff of the Freetown City Council (FCC), community leaders, implementing partners and beneficiaries, the Mayor described the project as “a transformative investment in people, dignity and opportunity.”
The Susan’s Bay Care Block will serve as a central hub for a wide range of essential community services, including adult education classes, nutrition support, childcare, professional development initiatives and improved access to health and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response services. The facility is also designed to promote shared responsibility in the home by offering caregiving training for men and running public awareness campaigns on the value of care work.
Implemented by the Freetown City Council in partnership with CHANGE, the initiative draws on Bogotá’s globally acclaimed Care Blocks model, adapting it to meet the needs of caregivers in densely populated urban communities like Susan’s Bay.
The project forms part of the Scaling Care Innovations in Africa partnership and is supported by Global Affairs Canada, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Metropolis. Its focus on improving access to education, health, economic empowerment and safe spaces aligns directly with the Human Capital Development pillar of Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s Transform Freetown agenda.
Construction of the Care Block marks a significant milestone in the city’s ongoing efforts to empower women, reduce inequalities and strengthen community resilience. The facility is expected to expand opportunities for thousands of caregivers and families once completed.
