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Women at a LEWAF savings and loaning annual share-out celebration

About LEWAF

Who We Are

Learn our story, our values, the people behind our work, and the communities we serve — all in one place.

Our StoryVision & MissionOur TeamWhere We Work

Our Story

Born from loss,
built on love

Ellen Pauline Kise was a Norwegian humanitarian philanthropist, born in 1947 in Hjuksebø, southern Norway. From 1987 to 2005 she worked with relief and development aid organisations across Africa — in Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Chad — and personally supported individuals and families to rise out of poverty and live independent lives.

Up to her last days, Ellen expressed deep concern for women and children affected by domestic violence with no access to safety nets. During her battle with cancer, the idea of establishing a foundation in her memory to continue her mission was brought to her — she called it the greatest honour and gave it her full blessing. Thus, LEWAF was born: founded in 2008 and officially established in 2014 as a national NGO with a clear mandate to tackle violence against women and girls in homes and communities across Sierra Leone.

Today, operating from our head office in Freetown and three field offices across Sierra Leone, we reach the most marginalized and remote communities with programs that address gender equity, economic empowerment, reproductive health rights, and access to justice.

"Restoring: Value, Dignity & Respect"

LEWAF's founding tagline

Ellen Pauline Kise, the Norwegian humanitarian in whose memory LEWAF was founded
Ellen Pauline Kise · Founded 2008 · Established 2014 · Registered with MSWGCA & MOFED · Member of SLANGO

Registered With

MSWGCA
Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender & Children's Affairs
MOFED
Ministry of Finance & Economic Development
SLANGO
Full Member — Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organisations

Vision & Mission

The principles that guide everything we do

LEWAF members with 'We Say No to Early Marriage' shirts

"Restoring: Value, Dignity & Respect"

LEWAF's founding tagline

Our Vision

To see women and girls live in every community in Sierra Leone free from all forms of violence and inequality; and are valued, dignified and respected in their households and communities where they live and refer to as a home.

Our Mission

To create opportunities for women and girls to recover from the immediate trauma of violence and transform their lives by empowering them to advocate for their rights and be able to safely enjoy those rights with equal economic, social and decision-making opportunities in their households and communities.

Our Core Values

Dignity

Every person has inherent worth. We treat all beneficiaries, staff, and partners with respect and dignity.

Justice

We believe in equal rights and equal access to justice — regardless of gender, wealth, or location.

Empowerment

We build capacities rather than create dependency — enabling women to be agents of their own change.

Accountability

We are transparent with donors, partners, and communities about how we use resources and what we achieve.

Community-led

Change is most sustainable when it comes from within. We work alongside communities, not above them.

Inclusivity

We serve all women and girls regardless of religion, ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic status.

Community-Based Justice Advocates group photo with invited guests

Our Team

The people behind the mission

Our management team, board of directors, and a network of 20 Community-Based Justice Advocates — all committed to ending violence against women in Sierra Leone.

Executive Director

MB

Executive Director

Mohamed Bobor Jalloh

Mohamed is the Co-founder and Executive Director of LEWAF. A Social Development Policy and Management specialist with over 15 years of hands-on program design, implementation and strategic management, he holds an MSc from the Centre for Development Studies, Swansea University (UK) and an Executive Certificate in Legal Empowerment Leadership from Central European University, Budapest. He served as National Executive Chairperson of the National Coalition for Community Legal Empowerment (NaCCLE, 2018–2021) and was honoured in 2024 as one of the top 100 professionals in Sierra Leone by the African Consulting Group.

Management Team

PS

Patricia Sesay

Deputy Director — Strategic Resource Mobilization Programs

Patricia oversees daily operations, leads strategic planning with the Executive Director, manages budgets and administration, and represents LEWAF with stakeholders, partners, and the board.

EA

Elizabeth Abibatu Obed-Kamara

Head of Finance & Administration

Elizabeth leads LEWAF's financial management, reporting, and administrative systems.

YM

Yayah Morrison Kamara Esq.

Head of Access to Justice & Legal Empowerment Program

Yayah leads LEWAF's Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment program, including community paralegal services and legal education.

LF

Lousie Fatmata Jalloh

Head of Economic & Social Empowerment Program

Lousie leads LEWAF's Economic and Social Empowerment (EASE) program, including women's savings and loaning schemes and business development support.

IM

Ibrahim Mansaray

Head of Human Resource & Governance

Ibrahim leads LEWAF's human resource management and organisational governance.

LA

Lamin Aron Kamara

National Programs Officer & Acting Gender Equity Officer

Lamin is a community development animator and justice advocate with five years of field experience. He rose through LEWAF's ranks from volunteer to community-based paralegal, and in 2022 was certified as a Paralegal by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone. He serves as LEWAF's Lead Paralegal.

FA

Fatmata Aron Kamara

Logistics & Procurement Officer

Fatmata manages LEWAF's logistics and procurement across all offices.

MK

Mustapha Kanu

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Lead

Mustapha leads monitoring, evaluation and learning across all programs, ensuring LEWAF's work generates evidence-based insights.

AK

Alieu Kamara

Communication & Outreach Officer

Alieu manages LEWAF's communications, media presence, and community outreach.

Board of Directors

SM

Shecku M. Silla

Board Chairperson

Chairperson of the LEWAF Board of Directors.

LO

Leslie Oseh Whenzle

Board Member

A Public Administrator and community development specialist with over 25 years of practical experience in rural communities in Western Sierra Leone. He served as Community Head of Waterloo for 25 years and holds a degree in Administration from IPAM, University of Sierra Leone.

EC

Elizabeth C. Johnson

Board Member

An academic and Nutrition & Dietetics professional, currently Chief Examiner for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and Principal of St Joseph's Vocational Secondary School, Moyamba. She holds an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and an MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics from Njala University.

HB

Hawa Barrie

Board Member

A communications specialist, journalist and broadcaster with over a decade of experience, currently Deputy Director of Communications and Outreach at the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. Formerly with SLBC, UNDP and AMISOM, she is a three-time award winner for Best Reporting on Gender and Women's Empowerment.

DE

Dahlia Ernestine F. D. Wellington

Board Member

A Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone and Assistant Superintendent of Police, serving as prosecutor and legal adviser for the Sierra Leone Police, with over 10 years of experience.

HA

Hannah A. Lahai Robinson

Board Member

A gender specialist, women's rights activist and social worker with over 10 years of service, currently Assistant Director at the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, Freetown.

CS

Chief Sahr Orlando Gbekie (JP)

Board Member

A justice advocate and community peace and cohesion actor, currently Chairman of the National Council of Tribal Heads, Justice of the Peace, and Ex-Officio of the Freetown City Council, following 36 years of service in the Sierra Leone Police.

MB

Mohamed Bobor Jalloh

Board Secretary

Co-founder and Executive Director of LEWAF, serving as Secretary to the Board.

20
Community-Based Justice Advocates

From Freetown to Waterloo, Moyamba to Mokonde — our team works tirelessly in communities across Sierra Leone.

Community members at LEWAF's open-field legal education exhibition

Where We Work

Reaching the communities that need us most

LEWAF goes where the need is greatest — serving marginalized, deprived, and remote communities across Sierra Leone from four offices.

Head Office

Head Office — Freetown

48B Sanda Street, Lower Mayenkineh, Bottle Field, Calaba Town, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Admin: +232 (0)32 066 651 / +232 (0)34 586 060 / +232 (0)76 97 1418

Field Office

Waterloo Field Office

Hartshorn Street — Frandi Hall, Waterloo, Western Area Rural District
+232 (0)30 469 664

Field Office

Moyamba Field Office

51 Maada Hagba Road, Kayambe Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Southern Province
+232 (0)76 446 256

Field Office

Mokonde/Njala Field Office

11 Simbo Street, Mokonde, Njala, Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Southern Province
+232 (0)76 446 256

Sierra Leone — Office Locations

Freetown · Waterloo · Moyamba · Mokonde/Njala

Head OfficeWaterloo Field OfficeMoyamba Field OfficeMokonde/Njala Field Office

Our Focus

Why these communities?

LEWAF deliberately focuses on marginalized, deprived, and remote suburban communities in Sierra Leone — places where women's voices are least heard, access to justice is most limited, and economic vulnerability is most acute. Our geographic focus is not incidental — it is a strategic choice to serve those who need support most urgently.