Programmes

Youth Empowerment Programme  

   We currently work in 63 communities, in 12 districts in rural areas across Sierra Leone

• We have a total 126 national volunteers currently implementing the programme
• The programme is nine months long, inclusive of 3 weeks initial training
• We work to achieve a 50/50 male to female balance in the recruitment of our volunteers
• Volunteers implement a comprehensive programme including delivery of sessions and workshops on sexual and reproductive health, life skills, livelihoods and peace-building to both in and out of school youth.

Youth Leadership and Advocacy Programme

• The Youth Leadership and Advocacy Programme aims to engage young people in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, livelihoods, advocacy and peace-building, as well as build the capacity of government partners and youth organisations to better meet the needs of young people in Sierra Leone.
• The programme utilises the skills and knowledge of graduates from the Youth Empowerment Programme.  These young people are referred to as Young Leaders.
• The Youth Leadership and Advocacy Programme works primarily in urban communities and operates in and around Freetown, Bo and Makeni.

DIRECT DELIVERY

• Delivering workshops for in-school youth on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Youth Action Clubs formed by the volunteers engage both in and out-of-school youth to help raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health issues, as well as various other issues affecting young people in Sierra Leone.
• Volunteers work alongside Community Health Officers from local health centres to sensitise clinics on issues affecting young people.  This includes both health talks delivered in schools by Community Health Officers, as well as organised visits for young people to attend and familiarise themselves with the local clinic.
• Training teachers to provide and maintain sexual and reproductive health and life skills education for young people in their schools and communities.
• Training of Community Health Officers on provision of youth friendly services which promote effective ways of delivering health messages, encouraging young people to access local health centres.
• Entrepreneurship and skills training delivered for mainly out-of-school youth in both rural and urban areas
• Delivery of peace-building and conflict resolution workshops in rural communities.
• 63 Youth Friendly Resource Centres operational in all placement communities, which provide information, resources, peer advice and extra curricular activities for young people
• Drama Groups raising awareness of family planning, child rights, gender issues, sanitation, HIV and AIDS prevention, stigma and discrimination
• Youth Information Centres, based in tertiary institutions provide a variety of services to young people including CV writing sessions, computer training, career guidance, health talks, Voluntary Counselling and Testing, resources on issues affecting young people, organised outreach activities and Student Action Clubs.
• Creating linkages with the private sector, microfinance institutions, banks and training centres to enable young people better livelihood opportunities
• A National Career Fair is implemented to create a forum where private and public sector inform young people about their industry, the skills employers are looking for, the recruitment process, as well as any available opportunities.

 PUSHING FOR CHANGE

• Restless Development (Sierra Leone) has a comprehensive Advocacy Strategy and Action Plan
• Radio shows are conducted at national and regional level to discuss advocacy issues affecting young people
• International Days (such as World AIDS Day and International Women’s Day) are used as advocacy platforms for young people and staff at national, regional and community level to address policy issues concerning young people in Sierra Leone
• Engagement with radio, newspaper and television media to highlight specific advocacy issues affecting young people
• Letter writing campaigns centred on young people writing to specific government officials to impact on various policy issues.

 WORKING THROUGH PARTNERS

• Capacity building of community structures and stakeholders including teachers, Community Health Workers and Community Boards to sustain Restless Development programme activities
• Training stakeholders at national, regional and community levels including Ministry of Health staff, Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports staff, partners and local community structures in youth focussed development
• Training of youth organisations and partners in advocacy, sexual and reproductive health, livelihoods, and peace-building
• Building the capacity of government line ministries through the placement of interns to provide capacity building in youth development.

Restless Development aligns closely with Sierra Leone's poverty reduction strategy, promoting good governance, human rights, responsible leadership and citizenship, peaceful coexistence, and integration of youth. Through our work with government ministries and departments, we ensure that their services are effectively meeting the needs of young people in both rural and urban areas.