By: Usman Fambuleh
The Youth Panel Circle on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, officially launched a climate change initiative titled “Plastic Bags for a Cleaner Environment” in Crab Town, Freetown.
The event, held at Jasmie Primary School, brought together community stakeholders, development partners, and young participants, marking the start of a project aimed at tackling plastic pollution while empowering youth.
Speaking at the launch, Founder of Youth Panel Circle, Philipa Cride-Dole, said the organization remains committed to promoting and protecting the rights of children and young people through education, advocacy, and innovation. She explained that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to equip youth with practical solutions to climate change challenges.
“Our aim is to empower young people through education, advocate for climate action, nurture innovation, and promote sustainable development and community engagement,” she said, adding that the project demonstrates practical ways of addressing environmental issues.
According to her, the initiative will train 20 young people from the Crab Town community to recycle plastic waste into reusable bags. The three-month training programme is scheduled to run from May to July 2027 and is expected to help address the growing problem of plastic pollution in the area.
A representative from Plan International, Hajaratu M. Bangura, highlighted the significance of the project, noting that it falls under the Youth Climate Action Accelerator Project, which seeks to empower young people to lead climate action efforts in their communities.
“Due to the increasing impact of climate change, Plan International and its partners saw the need to support youth-led initiatives like this,” she said, adding that the current phase presents further opportunities if successfully implemented.
She encouraged participants to take the training seriously, emphasizing its potential to contribute to both personal development and community improvement.
Also speaking at the event, Crab Town Community Chairman, Lamrana Turay, expressed appreciation to the organizers for selecting the community. He described the project as timely, noting its potential to reduce poverty, create employment opportunities, and discourage social vices.
“Projects like this will help empower our young people economically and keep them meaningfully engaged,” he said.
Daniel Bob Jones, National Chairman of the Community Disaster Management Committee and project coordinator, assured stakeholders of effective implementation, stating that participants have already demonstrated readiness and awareness.
The event concluded with a symbolic joint launch by key stakeholders, signaling the beginning of what participants described as a transformative initiative for the Crab Town community.
