JNJ Foundation Trains 40 Youths in Solar Installation and Career Empowerment

The Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation (JNJF) continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to empowering young people from widowed families across Sierra Leone. On Friday 17th October 2025, the Foundation hosted a one-day Youth Solar Installation Training for over 40 children of widows from its sponsored communities at the Africell American Corner, Bathurst Street, Freetown.

This impactful training formed part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to equip youths with practical, employable skills that foster independence, discourage risky behaviors, and create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

The first session was led by Mr. Zain Jaward, CEO of ZADAS Technologies Ltd, who delivered an in-depth presentation on solar energy systems from an introduction to renewable energy to the fundamentals of photovoltaic (PV) systems). Mr. Jaward’s session gave participants a clear understanding of how solar energy works, its growing importance in today’s world, and how they can build careers in the renewable energy sector.

Following the technical training, the day continued with an interactive session on career development and digital empowerment. This segment focused on how young people can leverage the internet and digital media wisely using online platforms for learning, research, and skill-building in alignment with their future career goals. Participants explored how technology and AI are shaping the modern workplace and were encouraged to use social media productively as a tool for education and personal growth.

The event concluded with a deeply insightful and emotional session on human trafficking and illegal migration, facilitated virtually by Mr. Patrick Adeyemi-Buckle, CEO and Founder of True Hope Foundation International. Mr. Buckle highlighted the dangers of human trafficking and unsafe migration, emphasizing prevention, awareness, and the need for young people to make informed life choices. His message strongly resonated with the participants, sparking open conversations about the pressures faced by youths today and the importance of safeguarding their future.

Throughout the training, participants engaged actively asking questions, sharing their aspirations, and reflecting on how the lessons learned could positively transform their lives. Many of them expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation for its continuous investment in their education and development, describing the program as “life-changing” and “eye-opening.”

Speaking at the close of the event, representatives from the Foundation reaffirmed their mission to empower widows and their children by creating access to education, skills, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. This training, they said, is part of a larger vision to help break cycles of poverty and vulnerability within Sierra Leone’s most undeserved communities.

The Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation, founded in 2017, remains committed to empowering widows and orphans through education, economic development, and social support. By introducing initiatives like the youth solar training, the Foundation continues to pave the way for a generation of empowered, skilled, and hopeful young people ready to make a difference in their communities.