Empowering Sierra Leone's youth to rise above poverty
Youths in Action for Poverty Alleviation-SL equips young people with the tools, opportunities and networks to transform their own lives and the communities around them.
“Unite and Fight to Reduce Poverty.”
A movement of young people, for young people
Youths in Action for Poverty Alleviation-SL is a youth-led, community-driven organization dedicated to empowering young people in Sierra Leone to take action against poverty and improve their communities. We were founded in 2025 by a group of passionate individuals who saw the need for youth-led initiatives to address widespread poverty and the lack of opportunities facing young people in Sierra Leone.
Our approach is rooted in empowerment. We believe that when young people are equipped with the right tools, opportunities and networks, they can transform their own lives and the communities around them.
We work in partnership with local communities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and international development partners to maximize impact and reach as many young people as possible in designing and implementing our programs. This work improves the living conditions and livelihoods of poor and disadvantaged youths, both men and women, across our working zones.
🌍 Our Vision
A Sierra Leone where empowered youth and engaged communities drive equitable, sustainable development to reduce poverty.
🎯 Our Mission
To empower youths, communities and stakeholders through targeted programs in livelihoods and agriculture, advocacy, skills empowerment, education, health, governance and environmental resilience.
📣 Our Motto
Unite and Fight to Reduce Poverty.
The principles that guide us
Eight values, one commitment, known by our acronym PIIRAL-IP.
Participation
Everyone has a voice in our work.
Integrity
We do what is right, always.
Inclusion
No young person is left behind.
Respect
We honour every community we serve.
Accountability
Transparent to our communities and partners.
Learning
We grow through every experience.
Innovation
New ideas for old challenges.
Partnership
Stronger together than apart.
PIIRAL-IP means Pursuing Integrity In Relationships And Learning In Partnership.
Our intervention areas
Six connected program areas, designed and implemented hand-in-hand with the communities we serve.
Livelihoods & Agriculture
Promoting youth entrepreneurship, livelihood diversification, financial inclusion and climate-smart agriculture that puts income in young hands.
Skills & Empowerment
Vocational and life-skills training with mentorship, preparing young men and women for meaningful work and self-employment.
Education
Supporting access to quality education and scholarship initiatives so poverty never closes the classroom door.
Health, Nutrition & WASH
Community health, nutrition and water, sanitation & hygiene programs that build healthy foundations for thriving communities.
Governance & Advocacy
Facilitating youth engagement in civic processes and good governance, so young voices shape the decisions that affect them.
Environmental Resilience
Advancing environmental sustainability and climate resilience to protect the land communities depend on.
Gallery
Moments from our programs across Sierra Leone. Filter by intervention area to see what we're doing on the ground.
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What YiAPA pursues
Promote youth entrepreneurship, livelihood diversification and financial inclusion.
Provide vocational and life-skills training and mentorship to young people.
Support access to quality education and scholarship initiatives.
Implement community health, nutrition and WASH programs.
Facilitate youth engagement in civic processes and good governance.
Advance climate-smart agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Meet the team
The passionate individuals leading Youths in Action for Poverty Alleviation-SL. They are young Sierra Leoneans working every day for the communities they come from.
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Founder & Executive Director
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Programs Manager
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Finance & Administration
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Monitoring & Evaluation
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Community Mobilization Officer
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Agriculture & Livelihoods Lead
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Youth Advocacy Officer
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Communications Officer
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Backed by a dedicated Board of Directors and a growing network of community volunteers across Sierra Leone.
Volunteer with YiAPA
Whether you are in Sierra Leone or supporting from abroad, there is a place for you in this work. Give your time, your skills or your voice.
Where you can help
Donate to change a young life
Every contribution goes directly into programs that put skills, seeds, schooling and clean water within reach of young Sierra Leoneans. We account for every leone.
What your gift does
Provides school supplies and materials for a student for a full term.
Supplies seeds and tools for a young farmer to start a climate-smart plot.
Sponsors one youth through a vocational skills training course.
Funds a community health, nutrition and WASH outreach session.
Launches a youth enterprise with start-up capital and mentorship.
Prefer to give in-kind, such as equipment, books, seeds or professional time? Get in touch.
How to give
Choose the method that works best for you. For every donation we issue a written acknowledgement.
Bank Transfer
Account name: Youths in Action for Poverty Alleviation-SL
Bank: [add bank name]
Account number: [add account number]
Swift / IBAN: [add for international transfers]
Mobile Money
Orange Money: [add number]
Afrimoney: [add number]
Registered name: [add name]
Institutional & Grant Funding
Development partners and foundations are welcome to contact us for our profile, registration documents and program budgets. International donors may give in any currency. Funds are converted to Leones on receipt.
Unite and fight to reduce poverty with us
We partner with local communities, government agencies, non-profits and international development partners. Join us in empowering the next generation of Sierra Leonean changemakers.
Become a Partner