SUCCEED Sierra Leone has successfully concluded a two-day Civil Society Engagement Training, held from February 19 to 20, 2025, at the Fatima Campus UNIMAK virtual class. The training brought together participants from various civil society organizations and government sectors to enhance their understanding of disability inclusion and psychosocial rehabilitation.
Bombali District Human Rights Committee Secretary General Alhaji Conteh said the training enabled him to identify an opportunity for successful intervention. He commended the SUCCEED country team for their intervention in addressing psychosocial disability in Sierra Leone.
This is not the first time SUCCEED Sierra Leone has organized such a capacity-building event. On the opening day, CBM Consultant Michael Njenga presented the topic “Understanding Disability and the Preconditions of Inclusion.” During the opening session, Dr.Njenga appreciated the presence of all participants from different sectors of the country and encouraged all participants to use the two-day learning sessions for the good of their communities.
SUCCEED Sierra Leone Program Manager, Veronica Kamara, provided an overview of SUCCEED work. She said SUCCEED is implementing a coproduction model where the lived experience and the professional work together. “The effectiveness of psychosocial rehabilitation, emphasizing best practices for ensuring long-term support and inclusion,” she said.
Capacity Building Manager Alhaji Koroma outlined the expected training outcomes. He said the training will provide knowledge on the work of SUCCEED Sierra Leone.SUCCEED Africa is supervised by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
The Government of Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation Mental health Director Dr. Santigie Sesay attended the two-day training. He like many participants praised the effort of SUCCEED Sierra Leone in engaging different sectors on their contributions to addressing mental health issues across the country.
“ SUCCEED Sierra Leone intervention yielded progress in addressing mental; health at the local level. He said
Research Coordinator Amjata Bayoh said the training sessions focused on key themes such as inclusion conditions, non-discrimination, accessibility, support services, and assistive technology. “The session also explored the meaningful participation and inclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities,” he said.
SUCCEED Sierra Leone is part of a 4-country consortium including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Service Users and Family Members Association Representative Edna Bona recommended that SUCCEED expand nationwide. “We take this message outside Freetown to continue raising awareness on mental health after the training,” she said.
On the second day, Principal Investigator Dr. Rebecca Esliker introduced participants to the principles of community-based rehabilitation. She said this training was followed by insightful presentations on the aims and principles of rehabilitation, perspectives of a multidisciplinary approach, the whole-person approach, and the various rehabilitation strategies used in psychosocial support.
The training served as a vital platform to strengthen partnerships between civil society organizations and government institutions, fostering a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities, especially those with psychosocial conditions, can fully participate and benefit from social and economic opportunities.
SUCCEED Sierra Leone continues to champion disability inclusion and advocacy, equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to drive meaningful change in communities across the country.