Youth Ministry, Caritas Unveil ELEVATE Initiative to Fight Drug Abuse

The Ministry of Youth Affairs, in partnership with Caritas, has launched the ELEVATE Project, a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing rising substance abuse among young people in Sierra Leone.

The project, unveiled on Thursday, seeks to tackle the interconnected challenges of addiction, unemployment, and social exclusion, particularly among vulnerable youth in drug-affected communities across the country.

At the center of the initiative is the Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, whose direct engagement with at-risk communities helped shape the programme. Over the past several months, the Minister has been visiting ghettos and drug-prone neighborhoods, interacting with young people battling addiction and consulting organizations involved in rehabilitation and youth development.

Officials say these engagements exposed the scale and complexity of the crisis and underscored the urgent need for a coordinated and professional response. Speaking during a field visit to Hamilton, one of the communities heavily affected by drug abuse, Sannoh described the initiative as a transformative opportunity for affected youth.

“This is not just another programme,” he said. “This is an opportunity to rebuild your lives.”

The ELEVATE Project is designed as a phased intervention, beginning with intensive psychotherapy and mental rehabilitation. Participants will receive counseling, emotional support, and behavioral therapy aimed at restoring confidence and stability considered essential before any economic empowerment efforts can succeed.

Following this stage, beneficiaries will transition into skills development programmes, including vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and tailored livelihood opportunities. Reintegration efforts will also focus on reconnecting participants with their families and communities, addressing the social disruption often caused by addiction.

Government officials noted that the initiative goes beyond short-term interventions, incorporating sustained mentorship, follow-up support, and pathways to long-term employment or self-reliance.

For many of the young people engaged in Hamilton, the Minister’s message was clear: their current circumstances do not define their future. He assured participants of the government’s commitment to supporting them through every stage of recovery from rehabilitation to reintegration while urging them to embrace the programme as a turning point.

The launch of the ELEVATE Project signals what authorities describe as a shift from fragmented responses to a more holistic strategy that treats substance abuse not only as a social issue, but also as a public health and national development challenge.

As Sierra Leone continues to grapple with growing concerns over youth vulnerability, stakeholders say the success of the initiative could play a critical role in reclaiming a generation at risk offering not just intervention, but a genuine pathway to renewal.