A wave of celebration, gratitude, and transformation filled the air at the Bo Women Skills Training Centre as the LANYI Foundation held its inaugural graduation ceremony for vulnerable women and girls. This milestone event marked the successful completion of a 12-month intensive training program in tailoring and eco-friendly sanitary pad production, a project fully funded by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation.
Held under the theme of empowerment through skills, the ceremony brought together partners, community leaders, beneficiaries, and supporters to commemorate a journey that has already begun to transform lives.
The event featured remarks from Edmund TeJan Kanu, representative of the Bo District Council, who praised the collaboration between LANYI and its partners. He emphasized the significance of the project not only for the women but for Sierra Leone as a whole.
“We are proving that disability is not inability,” he stated. “These skills are transforming citizens into productive members of society. Even a man with a PhD will need you, because they need clothes, and you are the ones to make them.”
He encouraged the graduands to apply their new skills with dedication, stressing that the tools provided (sewing machines) and other materials are only as powerful as the passion and effort behind them.
“This startup kit does not make you a tailor. It is what you do with it that counts,” he added, calling on the graduands to take their new journey seriously and make a positive impact in their homes and communities.
One of the graduands Regina Lahai gave a moving speech reflecting on the struggles many participants had faced before the program.
“Some of us were single mothers. Some of us were beggars. Some were destitute. But today, we stand transformed. We now have meaning and purpose in our lives.”
Another graduand, Mary Sandy, spoke of the obstacles she overcame, including dropping out of school due to financial hardship.
“I took the WASSCE, but my family couldn’t afford university fees. Today, thanks to this training, I have a future again. I am no longer just a dropout, I am a skilled and empowered young woman.”
Nurse Aminata Sesay of the Red Cross Clinic in Bo shared the importance of the eco-friendly pad initiative, noting the immediate impact on women who could not afford basic sanitary items. Some of the pads produced by these students in transition were donated to this clinic for delivering mothers.
“When LANYI came with the pads, we were truly blessed. They are comfortable and absorbent, and they meet a desperate need in our new mothers who could not afford to buy theirs.”
Sister Margaret, the Tzu Chi Foundation’s representative in Sierra Leone, conveyed greetings from their global leadership and underscored the value of community empowerment. She shared greetings from Dharma Master Cheng Yen and Sister Debra.
“Today, your voices are valid in the community. You have learned to save, to support yourselves and others. Our leaders approved the startup kits because we believe in your ability to change lives, you will excel the more when you help others. So don’t act greedy when you grow.”
In a powerful keynote address, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, Programs Manager at Caritas Freetown and a volunteer with Tzu Chi, praised the determination of the graduates and the collective efforts behind the initiative.
“You all look so beautiful and promising. Continue to educate others and spread this light in your communities. This is just the beginning.”
He extended appreciation to the Tzu Chi Foundation, LANYI Foundation, Auntie Kadie, and all other partners, emphasizing the unity of purpose driven by the values of love and service.
The event also featured a role-play drama by the graduates, demonstrating the real life challenges they overcame and the skills they’ve acquired. Certificates were officially handed over by Mrs. Isata Charles, who encouraged the women to believe in their greatness.
Aunty Kadie, Manager at the Growth Center, urged the graduates to remain ambitious: “Sew your items and bring them to our showroom, we’ll help you market them. Physical challenges are not barriers; we can still make a difference.”
This first graduation of the LANYI Foundation is more than a ceremony; it’s a symbol of rebirth, resilience, and the power of radical inclusion. These women are no longer defined by their pasts, but by the skills they now hold and the futures they are empowered to create. As Sierra Leone continues its journey of development and social transformation, programs like this light the path forward.
