A Workshop For Change

Gathering in Freetown, JNJF convened a special Widows Empowerment Workshop, bringing together chairladies and secretaries from its network of community groups. These leaders were not simply participants but the conduits of transformation, carrying lessons back to their communities.

“Widows are not passive victims. When given the right tools, they are powerful contributors to families and society.”

— JNJF Opening Remarks

Building Systems of Support

JNJF has been pioneering Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), grassroots financial cooperatives where widows pool savings, access small loans, and launch businesses for years.

The model fosters both economic independence and solidarity. Instead of isolation, widows are finding networks of strength. Instead of silence, they are raising collective voices for dignity.

Lessons in Finance, Health, and Rights

The workshop’s impact was driven by its speakers, each offering practical guidance rooted in empowerment:

• Finance & Growth: Madam Josephine Sesay of Union Trust Bank (UTB) emphasised saving, investment, and formal banking as pathways to stability.

• Rights & Security: Prince Amadu of NASSIT explained how widows can claim benefits owed to them and protect their children’s futures.

• Health & Wellness: Madam Marion Forde urged widows to prioritise check-ups and self-care, reminding them, “Your well-being is your wealth.”

• Independence & Identity: Speaking from London, Canon Dr. Pelham Hazeley delivered a stirring address: “Do not lose your individuality within marriage. Widowhood is not an end but the opening of a new chapter.”

Finding Strength in Shared Stories

Beyond the podium, the workshop became a sanctuary for truth. Women spoke candidly about abandonment, neglect, and stigma, but found comfort in one another’s courage.

What might have been a gathering of sorrow became instead a network of resilience—a reminder that empowerment is as much about community as it is about training.

“Within this space, we are not abandoned. We are encouraged. We are strong.”

— Participant Reflection

Reframing Widowhood

The Foundation’s vision reaches beyond workshops. By combining financial literacy, access to entitlements, and emotional support, JNJF is challenging the cultural narrative around widowhood.

Instead of being treated as burdens, widows are now seen as pillars of society—women who can lead, inspire, and rebuild.

The Message of the Day

By the end of the workshop, one message rang clear: Widowhood is not the end of a woman’s story. It begins a new chapter defined by resilience, dignity, and strength.