By Chinedu Azuara, Donald S.C. Sombie, Gassimu Musa, Mamie Ruth Kamara, Ngozi Blessing Azuara and Tenneh Conteh
We are young SDI federation members from Bo Town in Sierra Leone who have been grounded intensively over the past six months on training programs under the SDI Impact Innovation Initiative. Among all the trainings we received, one worth highlighting is the drone training which was facilitated by the Centre of Dialogue on Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOHSAPA).
From March to May 2026, we participated in drone training sessions together with our city council. At the beginning, we faced many challenges. Some were nervous about catching the drone when it was landing to prevent it from hitting the ground, while others struggled to control the drone using the remote controller.
However, through continuous practice, commitment and determination, we gradually overcame these difficulties and learned how to operate and fly drones successfully.
When we completed the training, we conducted drone mapping exercises in three different communities namely Torwama, Kortibuma and Simbaru. The purpose was to identify and document the number of houses and shops, their locations, the livelihoods of residents and the location of various services within the communities. Most importantly, the mapping helped us understand the challenges facing these communities, identify what they are lacking and determine their most pressing needs.
During our survey, we identified key strategic locations within the three communities, including schools, places of worship, livelihood centres and other important community facilities.
However, one major gap we discovered in these settlements was the absence of vocational institutions and training hubs.
As a result, there is an urgent need for youth-focused initiatives that provide skills training and income-generating opportunities to help young people build sustainable livelihoods.
Based on the data collected, we encourage the Government of Sierra Leone and development partners, including NGOs, to establish vocational training centres and youth learning hubs in these settlements. This will equip the youth with practical skills, improve their chances of securing employment or becoming self-employed and contribute to the overall development of their communities. Such interventions will also help reduce poverty, unemployment and crime while creating a brighter future for the youth.
Behind the collective achievements are individual journeys. Hear directly from some of the SDI youth who took part, sharing their experiences in their own words.
Gassimu Musa
I am Gassimu Musa from the Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP). I am from the settlement of Mendewa in Bo Town in Sierra Leone. I am a member of the Gbotima Savings Group.
Regardless of their income or status, the women and men that form part of this group have the power to speak with one voice and bring about real change. Savings groups serve as building blocks for our settlement and community. In turn, this helps us to pool our resources and tackle issues that affect our entire community, going beyond just livelihoods.
I am also participating in the SDI Impact Innovation Initiative project. Through this project, I learnt how to fly a drone to do settlement boundary mapping. I also facilitated focus group discussions with my community to help find solutions for our challenges.
Bo Town has a large and growing youth population, yet many young people struggle to get ahead. Unemployment is high, skills training is hard to access and poverty remains a daily reality. Many young people have ideas and want to contribute to their communities, but they lack the support, funding and opportunities to do so.
In my settlement, there is no training centre for youth. This is one of our biggest challenges. As part of this project, we will be building a skills and vocational centre in Bo Town where young people can learn practical skills, start small businesses and find work. I would like to see the youth from my community create their own opportunities and play an active role in building a better Bo Town.
Tenneh Conteh
My name is Tenneh Conteh, a resident of Torwama and a member of the Oneness Savings Group.
What excites me most about Slum Dwellers International (SDI) is seeing how people living in informal settlements come together to create solutions for their own communities. I am inspired by the way SDI mobilises local residents, especially women and youth, to lead change through savings groups, community mapping and collective action.
It is exciting to see communities gain a stronger voice and work with governments on housing, sanitation and other essential services. The idea that people can transform their own neighbourhoods through unity, leadership and shared learning gives me hope and motivation.
Ngozi Blessing Azuara
I am Ngozi Blessing Azuara, a member of the Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP) in Gborbu Community, Sierra Leone, and a proud member of the One Hope Savings Group.
Being part of the SDI Impact Innovation Initiative has been a life-changing experience for me. One of the most exciting parts of the programme was the drone training. Before this training, I had never seen a drone being flown up close, let alone operated one myself. Learning how to fly a drone and understanding how it can be used for community development opened my eyes to new possibilities.
Through this training, I gained practical knowledge in drone flying and community mapping. I learned how drones can help capture accurate information about our settlements, identify social amenities, map community boundaries and collect data that can support planning and development. This knowledge has given me a new way of looking at the challenges and opportunities within my community.
In Gborbu Community, many residents face economic challenges and have limited financial resources.
Despite this, members of our One Hope Savings Group remain committed to saving regularly and supporting one another. With the little money they have, they continue to invest in a shared vision of improving our community and creating opportunities for future generations.
Their dedication shows that meaningful change does not always begin with wealth, it begins with unity, commitment and hope.
The drone training has equipped me with skills that I can use to support my community. Through mapping and data collection, I can help identify areas where services are lacking, document community needs and provide evidence that can strengthen our advocacy efforts. This information can be used to engage stakeholders, government institutions, and development partners in addressing challenges affecting our community.
For me, this training was more than just learning to fly a drone. It was about gaining a tool that can help amplify the voice of my community. I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to use the knowledge and skills I have gained to contribute to positive change, support community development and help build a better future for the people in our settlements.
Mamie Ruth Kamara
My name is Mamie Ruth Kamara, a resident of Kortibuma Section in Bo Town, Sierra Leone and a member of the Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP).
Over the past six months, we have undergone several trainings under the SDI Impact Innovation Initiative. Some of these trainings included drone training, service mapping, boundary mapping and community engagement.
Among all of them, I would especially like to talk about drone flying, which was the most interesting part for me. Before the training, I did not know how to fly a drone, but after the training sessions, I can now fly one confidently. The mapping helps me get accurate data about my community like the number of houses, schools, water points, services, marketplaces, hospitals, churches, toilets and hazardous points.
The training also helped me acquire skills that I never had before such as communication and facilitation skills. I am willing and eager to continue learning more.
I believe that all youth must be the change they want to see in their communities. We must not just be beneficiaries of projects, but we should be the change.
Chinedu Azuara
My name is Chinedu Azuara from Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP) in Sierra Leone. During the Impact Innovation Initiative, I had the opportunity to participate in drone flying and community mapping training.
It was an eye-opening experience that showed me how technology can be used to better understand our communities and support development.
This experience has inspired me to think differently about the challenges facing our communities. As young people, we need more opportunities to learn innovative skills that can help us create lasting impact.
I encourage NGOs, development partners and institutions to invest in youth training. When young people are supported with knowledge and skills, they become part of the solution.
Donald S.C. Sombie
My name is Donald S.C. Sombie, a resident of Bo in Sierra Leone and a proud member of Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP).
Thanks to this training, we are now able to apply our knowledge and skills to earn a living. We also encourage other young people who have recently joined or are just receiving this opportunity to take the training seriously and make the most of it.
At the same time, we appeal to the government and other stakeholders across the country to consider engaging us in drone mapping and related activities, as we are now equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to operate drones.
