Lack of work and prospects, drug use, prostitution and unwanted pregnancies characterise the lives of young people

in the poor and neglected communities on the outskirts of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Together with the Christian health network in Sierra Leone, DIFAEM is breaking new ground in the small West African country: instead of receiving external aid, the young people are to take their lives into their own hands. For comprehensive health care includes not only the treatment of diseases, but also healthy nutrition, hygiene measures and access to clean drinking water.

Due to patriarchal structures and poor educational opportunities, women and young people in particular know little about their health. This also affects emergency and public health care. Therefore, it is all the more important to address the needs of the local people. Improving the hygienic situation, sex education and educational opportunities, but also designing better and more youth-friendly care in hospitals are promoted here.

The villagers become aware of their situation in workshops, they develop their own ideas for solutions and, if possible, use local resources. This approach is about a changed view and behaviour and the active participation of the population. Thus, people are no longer dependent recipients of aid like in the past, but are involved in all decisions and contribute their own strengths and resources. It is about the sustainable improvement of the health situation in dialogue with the people concerned. People have to realise that they can take their health into their own hands and change their situation together.