Tribute to Widows...

By: Augusta Osmatu Bangura

She met someone she believed was the love of her life. They had dreams—not of riches, but of togetherness. To raise children, to walk through life’s hurdles side by side, to love each other through it all. They didn’t have much, but they had each other—and that was everything. With time, their love blossomed into a growing family. She was proud to raise their children in a home full of warmth and care, where both parents showed what it meant to love and be loved.

Then, everything changed. Her partner—gone. His life cut short.

And with him, their dreams seemed to disappear too. She was left with grief, responsibility, and the weight of raising children alone. But even in her darkest moment, she found strength—not for herself, but for her children. She tied her wrapper, wiped her tears, and made a promise: “My children will still have the life we dreamed of.”

That kind of strength is rarely seen—and even more rarely celebrated.

Widows across the world carry unimaginable pain. They face financial hardship, social exclusion, and emotional isolation. And in many countries, including Sierra Leone, they are denied their rightful inheritance and support.

In Sierra Leone alone, widows head 7.6% of all female-led households, yet only 22% receive any inheritance after their husbands pass. That means the majority are left with nothing but loss—and still, they rise.

This International Widows’ Day is a moment to reflect, recognize, and honour these women.They are fighters. They are providers. They are often invisible, but not forgotten.

Among the voices offering support is the Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation, a Sierra Leone-based organization working to empower widows with resources, skills, and hope. The Foundation helps widows rebuild their lives, restore their dignity, and remind them that they are not alone. In a world that often overlooks widows, this kind of support is more than charity, it is justice.

They're not a charity case, they're people and really strong ones at that

Today and every day, the strength of widows deserves acknowledgment. And the work of those who walk alongside them deserves support.