Kenema Program Equips Recovering Substance Users with Renewable Energy Skills

Kenema Program Equips Recovering Substance Users with Renewable Energy Skills

In a move combining vocational training with social rehabilitation, SEND Sierra Leone has successfully concluded a solar installation training programme for three young men recovering from substance abuse at the Daru Rehabilitation Centre.

The graduates, now recognized as "Kush Ambassadors," were chosen for the initiative based on their dedication to recovery and their commitment to advocating against drug use in their communities. 

Through the program, participants gained hands-on expertise in solar panel installation, maintenance, and electrical systems, positioning them to enter the country’s expanding renewable energy sector.

SEND Sierra Leone stated that the initiative is designed to tackle two pressing issues simultaneously: youth unemployment and the rehabilitation of individuals affected by illicit substance use. 

By providing a tangible pathway to economic stability, the organization aims to assist in the long-term reintegration of recovering users and decrease the likelihood of relapse.

Representatives from the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Daru Rehabilitation Centre praised the intervention, highlighting the effectiveness of linking vocational skills with substance abuse recovery. Officials have called for increased investment from the government and private sector to scale similar livelihood programs, emphasizing the need to support recovering individuals as they transition back into the workforce.

The program arrives as Sierra Leone continues to address the widespread challenge of "kush" and other substance abuse among its youth population. 

Development experts are increasingly viewing technical training as a vital tool in this effort, providing recovering individuals with the means to secure dignified employment and contribute to national development.