Empowering Sierra Leone’s Future: Eunice Naffie Mustapha’s Scholarship Initiative as a Model for Sustainable Development

In 2024, Eunice Naffie Mustapha, a distinguished Legal Policy Expert and passionate storyteller from Sierra Leone, faced a crossroads that would transform not only her own journey but also the futures of many young women in her country. Originally, Eunice had planned to pursue a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at New York University (NYU), having secured a prestigious partial scholarship in International Business Regulation, Litigation, and Arbitration. However, despite her efforts, a significant funding gap remained: one she sought to bridge through a heartfelt GoFundMe campaign.

From Personal Ambition to Collective Impact

Eunice raised approximately $1,555 through her online fundraising campaign, a testament to the trust and goodwill of her donors, many of whom were Sierra Leoneans personally connected to her mission. When the campaign fell short of the full amount needed to attend NYU, Eunice faced a difficult decision: keep the funds, return them, or repurpose them. Guided by a deep sense of accountability and stewardship, Eunice chose to repurpose the funds to empower others, rather than let the contributions go unused or be retained for personal use.

Reflecting on this choice, Eunice shared, “Attending NYU would have been a story about me. But now, I had the chance to help at least 24 people build their own skills. That too is a story worth telling, one rooted in purpose, stewardship, and collective growth.” This decision embodies the principles of sustainable development, leveraging limited resources to create lasting social impact and capacity building within her community.

Transparent and Purposeful Scholarship Distribution

Eunice’s approach to selecting beneficiaries mirrored the trust her donors placed in her. She prioritized young female leaders with a demonstrated interest in capacity building, many of whom had volunteered with Strong Girls Evolution, an organization dedicated to empowering Sierra Leonean girls. Additionally, she partnered with the Tadris Foundation to award a scholarship through an online giveaway, ensuring fairness and outreach beyond her immediate network.

The scholarships primarily funded one-month Coursera Plus subscriptions, granting beneficiaries access to world-class online courses from leading universities. This flexible model allowed recipients to tailor their learning to their unique career goals, fostering autonomy and self-directed growth. One beneficiary enrolled in the Tadris Empowerment Initiative, expanding the initiative’s reach into vocational training.

Real Stories of Transformation

The initiative’s impact is already evident. For example, the current Executive Director of Strong Girls Evolution, a beneficiary herself, found the training so transformative that she committed to self-sponsoring future courses annually. Such testimonials highlight how Eunice’s initiative not only builds individual capacity but also inspires a ripple effect of empowerment and leadership within Sierra Leone’s female youth community.

Lessons in Leadership, Accountability, and Resilience
Eunice’s journey underscores critical lessons in leadership and public trust:

• Accountability: She maintained meticulous records of all transactions, safeguarding donor trust and offering transparency by allowing donors to verify fund usage upon request.

• Resilience: Eunice embraced imperfection and learned to rise after setbacks, embodying the principle that leadership is a continuous journey of growth.

• Integrity: Grounded in clear intentions and competence, she prioritized delivering tangible results over seeking visibility or perfection.

• Sustainable Vision: By focusing on capacity building rather than short-term aid, Eunice aligned her initiative with long-term sustainable development goals.

A Vision for Sustainable Growth and Collective Empowerment

Eunice envisions expanding this scholarship model through Strong Girls Evolution, using clear and objective criteria to ensure fairness and maximize impact. Though no longer its Executive Director, she has passed the baton to Ms. Sunnah Augusta Jaba Sandi, who shares her commitment to nurturing young female leaders.

Eunice encourages others to join this movement: “Others can continue sponsoring young Sierra Leoneans to earn career-building certificates.” Her initiative exemplifies how individual setbacks can be transformed into collective opportunities, advancing Sierra Leone’s sustainable development by investing in human capital.

This scholarship initiative by Eunice Naffie Mustapha aligns closely with Sierra Leone’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 5: Gender Equality. By empowering young women through access to skills training and lifelong learning opportunities, the program supports Sierra Leone’s national agenda to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all, while actively working to close gender disparities in education and vocational training. Furthermore, by fostering capacity building and leadership among female youth, the initiative contributes to Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by enhancing employability and promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth. This approach exemplifies how targeted, community-rooted interventions can advance global development priorities transforming individual potential into collective progress and sustainable social impact.

How to Support and Engage?

If you would like to support Strong Girls Evolution as they continue this important journey, feel free to reach to them at info@stronggirlsevolution.org or stronggirlevolution@gmail.com . They would love to hear from you!

And to all the kind GoFundMe donors who stood by Eunice Naffie Mustapha, you can connect with her directly at enm50820@gmail.com. 

Transparency remains paramount; this is why donors are encouraged to provide proof of their contributions, this helps with detailed records, while ensuring privacy and accountability.

Eunice Naffie Mustapha’s story is not only admirable but an enabler to sustainable development in action, turning personal dreams into community empowerment, fostering education, and building resilient leadership among Sierra Leone’s young women. Her initiative not only honours the generosity of her donors but also plants seeds for a future where skills, knowledge, and opportunity multiply, creating a lasting legacy of growth and empowerment.

This article draws on Eunice Naffie Mustapha’s personal reflections, her detailed records of scholarship disbursement, and her ongoing commitment to youth and female empowerment in Sierra Leone.

Eunice Naffie Mustapha, LL.M. is a Legal Policy Expert and Storyteller with experience in policy analysis, program management, research, leadership, and strategic communications. She has a proven track record of designing and implementing initiatives that drive social impact. Her cross-sector expertise spans government, nonprofit, academic, and private institutions, with a focus on international human rights, gender equity and equality, women’s leadership, public health law, and cross-functional collaboration. Having worked in both developing and developed contexts, Eunice brings a global perspective to leading teams, engaging diverse stakeholders, and advocating for systemic change.