27 June 2024

Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr today joined 39 young girls at St. Michael’s Field in Lakka for a fun “Softball for Success” event. This is an initiative that provides access to sports for young girls by making available to them softball coaching and training as well life skills that will enable them to succeed both on and off the field. Joined by Cllr Foday Yansanneh and Cllr Mohamed Darboh, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr participated in a 2-hour session with the girls which included warm-up exercises, team-building games, and softball practice. After running, jumping and playing with the girls, she gave a brief talk in which she encouraged the girls to strive to fulfill their potential and achieve their dreams – “to own their space and take their place”!

Softball for Success is an initiative by US-based Change Up Sports in partnership with Lumley-based Vintage Academy. The programme combines positive softball teachings and practical games with training on life skills, women’s empowerment, self-confidence, and team building. It currently caters for 39 girls between the ages of 12 and 18 from the Lumley, Lakka, and Hamilton communities.

As part of the off-field support, each girl’s family receives a 50 kg bag of rice on the final day of the programme. Each girl receives school supplies and has the costs for all medical and dental expenses covered whilst enrolled on the programme. A team of 12 American volunteers from Change Up Sports are in Freetown to facilitate this weeklong Softball for Success summer camp. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr was thrilled to accept Change Up Sport’s invitation to participate in today’s activities and more significantly, for Freetown City Council to partner with Change Up Sport. The aim of this partnership will be to facilitate the expansion of the program, making it available to more girls across the city.FCC recognizes the critical role that sports play in building confidence and its potential to transform lives so we look forward to building this partnership!