On Tuesday, 2 December, FCC brought together 60 market women, including market Chairladies, 20 each from the Kennedy Street, Portee, and Low Cost markets as part of ongoing community engagements to keep Freetown clean. This initiative was made possible with the support of The Carter Center through the Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign, implemented by Innovation for Community Resilience Sierra Leone.

The half-day session provided an opportunity to explain the importance of the new sanitation byelaws, with discussions focused on how women can access waste management information. Strong emphasis was placed on the 8244 toll-free line as a simple and reliable way for residents especially market women to obtain accurate information on FCC’s waste management services. Participants also suggested strategies for collaborating with FCC to better manage waste in their markets.

Importantly, the engagement aligns with the spirit of the 16 Days of Activism, equipping women with the information and access tools they need to make informed decisions, strengthen their agency, and better navigate essential city services. The session was attended by Councillors Amadu Kargbo; Agnes Marrah, Chairperson of the Market Committee; Hakiratu Maxwell Caulker, Chairperson of the Sanitation Committee; and Augustine Kamara from FCC’s Sanitation Team.