International and local leaders converged at the 7th Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) 2025, emphasizing women’s empowerment and child protection as fundamental to resilient communities.
Held at the Bintumani International Conference Centre on June 26-27, the event, co-organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with government and civil society partners, operated under the theme ‘Building Stronger Communities through Women Empowerment and Child Protection’.
Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, delivered the opening keynote, urging a shift from dialogue to concrete action. “Let us use this platform to design policies that will make women change-makers in our society,” she stated. The First Lady emphasized that genuine women’s empowerment yields tangible societal benefits, declaring, “Women are agents of transformation. They build up the families, and our families are what build up our society.”
Religious and traditional leaders reinforced this commitment. Elder Isaac K. Morrison, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, highlighted women’s indispensable role: “Women create harmonious and resilient communities. We need more women of virtue, purity, and empowerment, and this begins with the family.” Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, President of the Inter-Religious Council, asserted religious institutions must lead on gender equality and child welfare. Paramount Chief Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku-Sonsiama III stressed transformation begins locally: “When women are given a seat at the table, nations prosper.”
The conference’s second day focused intensely on child protection. Elder Alfred Kyungu, President of the Africa West Area for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, framed it as the bedrock of strong families. “Children are shaped by their experiences; hence, families must create a conducive environment that contributes not just to their physical well-being but to their emotional and spiritual health,” Elder Kyungu explained, advocating love over fear in child-rearing. Sheik Ibrahim Barrie linked women’s empowerment to Islamic teachings and community progress, while activist Grace Ada Brown powerfully linked family strength to national resilience.
A significant outcome announced by Elder Kyungu was a partnership with the Office of the First Lady to construct a 54-bed safe house for survivors of gender-based violence. “This facility will not only provide shelter but also counseling sessions to help survivors regain their footing in society,” Elder Kyungu confirmed. The conference closed with awards recognizing First Lady Bio’s leadership, presented by The Church, Sierra Leone’s Social Welfare Department, and the Government of Liberia.
Demonstrating pre-conference commitment, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commissioned a major renovation of the Intensive Care Units at Freetown’s Connaught Hospital. Elder Morrison described the project, which included vital medical equipment like ICU beds and defibrillators, as “faith in action.” Sierra Leone’s Acting Minister of Health, Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, acknowledged the alignment with national health goals, stating, “The collaboration between the Church and the government is vital for improving health outcomes.” Dr. Ibrahim Kapuwa, Hospital Care Manager, called the upgrades “a lifeline.”
Conference organizers stated the 8th Strengthening Families Conference is scheduled for Monrovia, Liberia, in June 2026.