Freetown: The 7th edition of the Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) unfolded in Freetown as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and collaborators joined government leaders, faith communities, and civil society to champion women's empowerment and child protection across Sierra Leone. The two-day conference officially opened at the Bintumani International Conference Centre under the theme "Building Stronger Communities through Women Empowerment and Child Protection."
According to African Press Organization, Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, delivered the keynote address on the first day, stating that the conference presented a unique platform to drive lasting change and challenged stakeholders to turn dialogue into action. She urged attendees to use the platform to design policies that will make women change-makers in society, emphasizing that promoting women's empowerment should not be reduced to tokenism. Goodwill messages also came from Ambassador Bob Sheriff of Liberia and Amir Musa Mewa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, showcasing regional solidarity.
The second day of the conference focused on child protection as the cornerstone of strong families. Elder Alfred Kyungu, President of the Africa West Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment for children's physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Sheik Ibrahim Barrie highlighted the necessity of women's empowerment for community progress, while young gender activist Grace Ada Brown spoke on the strength of families contributing to thriving communities.
The conference also featured practical strategies for safeguarding children's well-being from speakers such as Tonya Waite of Protect Child Health Coalition-USA, Jennifer Hogge Ellsworth of Engage Now Africa, and Sharon and Greg Slater of Family Watch International. Panelists discussed regional collaboration and community-based support systems, highlighting the importance of building trust between families and support institutions.
In a landmark announcement, Elder Kyungu revealed plans to build a 54-bed safe house in partnership with the office of the First Lady, providing shelter and counseling for survivors of gender-based violence. The closing ceremony included awards recognizing the First Lady's leadership from various organizations.
Ahead of the conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commissioned the renovation of the Intensive Care Units at Connaught Hospital. Elder Isaac Morrison described the project as "faith in action," and Acting Minister of Health, Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, noted the alignment with national health goals. Hospital leaders emphasized the life-changing impact of the upgrades, reinforcing the message that healthy families are foundational to strong nations.
The conference is scheduled to next take place in Monrovia, Liberia, in June 2026, with anticipation for another successful event.