Global leaders underscore child protection as foundation of resilient families at Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) 2025
Freetown, Sierra Leone – July 8, 2025 — The 7th edition of the Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) unfolded in Freetown with a strong message of empowerment, unity, and social transformation. Organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and key partners, the event brought together government officials, religious leaders, civil society actors, and international stakeholders to drive sustainable development through women’s empowerment and child protection.
Held under the theme “Building Stronger Communities through Women Empowerment and Child Protection”, the two-day conference was officially opened on June 26 at the Bintumani International Conference Centre. It marked a significant step in Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to improve family welfare, safeguard children’s rights, and foster inclusive development.
Delivering the keynote address, Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, issued a powerful call to action, urging stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and implement tangible policies. “Let us use this platform to design policies that will make women change-makers in our society,” she declared. She emphasized that empowering women must go beyond symbolic gestures, stressing their central role in building stable families and resilient societies.
Representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, reiterated the vital role of women in promoting harmony and resilience at both the family and community level. “We need more women of virtue, purity, and empowerment, and this begins with the family,” he stated.
Religious leaders, traditional chiefs, and civil society champions echoed similar sentiments. Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, President of the Inter-Religious Council, described women’s empowerment as a spiritual duty that faith-based institutions must embrace. Traditional ruler Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku-Sonsiama III noted that national progress depends on inclusive representation at all levels. “When women are given a seat at the table, nations prosper,” he said.
The first day also featured regional solidarity messages from Ambassador Bob Sheriff of Liberia and Amir Musa Mewa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, alongside a family welfare exhibition and a panel discussion led by policy advocates Madam Isatu Jabbie Kabbah and Aminata Turay.
On the second day, the focus shifted toward child protection, with Elder Alfred Kyungu, President of the Africa West Area of the Church, emphasizing the importance of nurturing environments for children. “Families must contribute not just to their physical well-being but to their emotional and spiritual health,” he noted. He further urged parents and institutions to lead with love and compassion.
Contributions from Sheik Ibrahim Barrie and gender activist Grace Ada Brown underlined the link between empowered families and thriving communities. Grace Brown moved the audience with her personal testimony, declaring, “When families are strong, communities thrive.”
Experts from international organizations such as Protect Child Health Coalition–USA, Engage Now Africa, and Family Watch International presented strategies to enhance child protection systems. Panelists Daniel F. H. Kettor, Blessing Kutubu, and Christiana Ogbemoye Oliko offered insights into how regional cooperation and grassroots networks can support vulnerable children and families. “Protecting children starts with building trust between families and the institutions designed to help them,” Mr. Kettor said.
A highlight of the conference was the announcement of a landmark partnership between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Office of the First Lady to construct a 54-bed safe house for survivors of gender-based violence. The facility will provide not only shelter but counseling and reintegration services.
Reinforcing its commitment to holistic development, the Church also commissioned a full renovation of the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) at Connaught Hospital ahead of the conference. The upgrade included ICU beds, defibrillators, monitors, and other essential medical equipment. Elder Morrison described the project as “faith in action,” while Acting Minister of Health, Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, praised the collaboration as a vital step toward improved health outcomes.
Dr. Ibrahim Kapuwa, Care Manager at Connaught Hospital, called the initiative transformative: “This is not just an upgrade; it is a lifeline.”
The conference concluded with awards presented to First Lady Fatima Maada Bio for her leadership in promoting family-centered policies, with recognitions from the Church, Sierra Leone’s Department of Social Welfare, and the Government of Liberia.
Looking ahead, the 8th edition of the Strengthening Families Conference is set to take place in Monrovia, Liberia in June 2026, continuing its mission to create a resilient Africa through the empowerment of women and protection of children.
