Empowering girls through skills development: beadwork and crochet workshop inspires creativity and future opportunities

Empowering girls through skills development: beadwork and crochet workshop inspires creativity and future opportunities

On August 22, 2025, Allies in Development (AiD), in collaboration with the Africell American Corner, hosted a one-day skills development workshop for girls participating in AiD’s school and youth club programme. The workshop introduced participants to two practical creative skills: beadwork and crocheting.

The session was hosted free of charge at the Africell American Corner venue on Bathurst Street, Freetown, through the support of Africell and the United States partnership.

The workshop brought together 28 girls between the ages of 12 and 20 from four of AiD’s partner schools:

Freetown Secondary School for Girls
Beacon High School
Providence International High School
International School Limited

The activity formed part of AiD’s commitment to creating safe and empowering spaces where girls can develop confidence, explore their abilities, and access opportunities that support their personal growth.

Learning through creativity and practical skills

Throughout the workshop, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of bead design and crocheting techniques. For many girls, this was their first opportunity to create handmade products, including colourful bracelets, crochet pieces, and other creative designs.

Participants actively engaged throughout the session, demonstrating curiosity and enthusiasm as they learned new skills and experimented with different creative approaches.

Beyond learning a new craft, the workshop encouraged participants to think about the potential value of practical skills development. Many girls expressed interest in continuing to develop these skills and exploring how creative activities could become future opportunities for income generation.

Strengthening connections and community engagement

The workshop also provided an opportunity to introduce participants to the wider work of Allies in Development, including its commitment to promoting the safety, empowerment, and wellbeing of women and girls.

Through the session, more girls became interested in engaging with the AiD School and Youth Club community and the support networks available through the programme. The activity reinforced the importance of creating spaces where girls can learn, connect, and build relationships with peers and mentors.

Key outcomes

The workshop contributed to several immediate outcomes:

28 girls from four partner schools gained exposure to practical creative skills in beadwork and crocheting.
Participants increased their awareness of skills development as a possible pathway toward future livelihood opportunities.
Girls expressed increased interest in engaging with the AiD community and future programme activities.
The activity strengthened awareness of Allies in Development’s work on empowering and supporting girls.

Looking ahead

Following the positive response from participants, Allies in Development plans to incorporate skills development activities into the 2025/2026 School and Youth Club programme activities.

By combining safeguarding, violence prevention, and practical skills development, AiD continues to create opportunities where girls can develop confidence, strengthen their networks, and explore pathways toward a more secure future.

Voices from participants

Participants shared their reflections on what the workshop meant to them and how learning new skills influenced their perspectives.

Acknowledgement

Allies in Development appreciates the support of Africell American Corner for providing the venue for this skills development workshop and creating opportunities for young people to access learning and development activities.