Sierra Leone is among the world’s poorest countries. Despite having made tremendous leaps since the 10 year-long civil war, many communities face regression due to the recent tragic wave of Ebola. The epidemic devastated lives and livelihoods, forcing businesses to close and leaving more and more families living in desperate poverty. Key areas such as education and youth employment have been eclipsed as resources were pooled to react to the crises. Today, a lack of up-to-date learning facilities and support prevents many rural young people from accessing the same opportunities as their peers, leading to high rates of instability and unemployment.   

As part of Queen’s Young Leader’s program, Endemol Shine Group’s teams around the world have been fundraising to support the first ZubaBox youth entrepreneurship hub in Sierra Leone, Makeni. A ZubaBox is a mobile solar powered internet hub that can deliver access to technology, up-to-date information and training facilities to the most remote parts of the world.   

This will be the first hub of this kind outside of the capital Freetown and will offer young people in Makeni access to entrepreneurship training using modern technology. The ZubaBox in this project is a tool of transformation and participation; it delivers an important message of inclusion, investment and change in traditionally underserved communities.   

Through on-the-ground partners, the program will help over 1,000 young people gain confidence, build a sustainable income and develop skills that are critical to succeeding professionally in the modern world.   

The Queen’s Young Leaders program is joint-funded by Comic Relief and is being delivered in partnership with Sierra Leone YMCA, On Our Radar, Computer Aid International and Y Care International.