Looking Town Widow Community Celebrates One-Year VSLA Milestone

Last Friday marked a truly remarkable milestone for the Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation and one of its sponsored widow communities, Looking Town. Joy, smiles, and celebration filled the air as the women completed a full one-year cycle of their Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), raising over 30,000 Leones in collective savings.

The VSLA model, championed by the Foundation, empowers widows and vulnerable women to pool resources, save together, and access loans that can be reinvested into their businesses and homes. For the Looking Town community, this milestone was more than just numbers, it represented resilience, hard work, and a renewed sense of hope.

The event was graced by Esther Junisa, Senior Social Worker and Head of Widowhood and Aged at the Ministry of Social Welfare, who presented the Certificate of Completion to the group’s chairlady. She expressed her thanks to the Foundation for their continued support, noting that the Ministry felt proud of such an amazing impact being made to transform the lives of widows in Sierra Leone.

Chief Baimba Conteh praised the Foundation’s field staff for always taking the time to monitor and stand by the community, while also appealing for the Foundation to continue its amazing work in improving the lives of widows.

Pastor Francis commended the Foundation for its consistent work, describing the initiative as “an act of service.” He reminded the audience that service comes in different forms—not only with money, but also through dedicated programs like the VSLA that bring real benefits and growth to widows and their families.

The group’s Chair lady, Madam Zainab, expressed her sincere gratitude to the Foundation, calling the program life-changing for many widows in her community. She explained how the savings cycle has enabled women like her to start businesses and meet urgent household needs.

Imam Foday Turay also shared his deepest appreciation, admitting he never imagined such a transformative initiative could exist in his community. He noted that the VSLA has changed the lives of many widows in Looking Town, giving them dignity, stability, and a renewed sense of possibility.

In addition to these moving remarks, a special gift of a bag of rice was awarded to the widow with the highest savings, a moment that highlighted individual dedication within the group’s collective success.

Most of the funds saved will be used to boost businesses, support children’s education, and maintain households. The women also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Jamil and Nyanga Jaward Foundation for its continued support, emphasizing how the VSLA program is shaping their financial independence and improving their daily lives.

Excited and motivated, the widows are already preparing to begin another savings cycle determined to grow their businesses, strengthen their families, and build brighter futures for their communities.

This achievement is a powerful reminder of the transformation that happens when women are given tools, opportunities, and a supportive network. Through the VSLA initiative, widows are turning grief into strength, marginalization into independence, and savings into lasting impact.