When I think back over the past decade of my work in Sierra Leone's care reform movement, one thing has become increasingly clear: true, sustainable change is not delivered from the outside in, it grows from the inside out.  And at the center of that growth are local leaders, men and women who understand their communities, feel the weight of their people's challenges, and carry a vision for transformation.

I've spent much of my professional life walking alongside children and families through the Child Reintegration Centre (CRC ) in Bo, Sierra Leone.  When I began this journey, I was part of team shifting from institutional care to family-based care, a major transition not only for our organization, but for our mindset, our systems, and our partnerships.

That transformation was not easy.  It took more than just funding or training.  It took trust, trust in local leadership.

Why local leaders are better equipped to respond to the needs of their communities

As local leaders, we know our communities deeply, not just in theory, but in lived experience.  We understand the indirect cultural dynamics, the importance of engaging elders and chiefs, and the power of community consensus.  We speak hte language, not just Krio or Mende, but the language of relationship and shared history.

I remember a case vividly; a small orphanage in Kenema, Grace Foundation (a client of the CRC's Transition Coaching and Mentoring (TCM) Department), who had lost access to their building through the owner.  The children were at risk of being displaced with nowhere to go.  There were no quick international solutions.  But because we, as a local team, were already embedded in the community, we moved fast.  We worked directly with the program manager, Mr. Moinina.  Together, we mobilized church families to temporarily host the children and began a reintegration process grounded in care, dignity and local connection.

That crisis didn't require a foreign response, it needed a trusted local response.  And that's what we gave.

How empowerment builds ownership and avoids long-term dependency

One of the most powerful things I've seen in my years at CRC is what happens when local people are not just invited to the table, but given space to lead.  When you empower someone to be part of the solution, they begin to take ownership.  

Through CRC and our collaborations, we've trained social workers, community leaders and caregivers on family reintegration, case management, and child protection.  After these trainings, many communities formed their own child welfare committees, meeting regularly, identifying vulnerable families, and taking proactive steps to keep children safe and united with their families.

They weren't waiting for another workshop or donation.  They took the tools and ran with them.  That's the kind of leadership that lasts.

What outside partners can do to support (but not contro) local leadership

I've also learned that the quality of international partnerships can make or break a movement.  Fortunately, in my experience with Helping Children Worldwide (HCW) - our allies, and other global partners, I've seen what good partnership looks like.

They didn't come in with all the answers.  They listened.  They learned.  They invested, not just in programs, but in people. They helped us train and equip our team, supported us during tough reintegration cases, and allowed us to shape the vision for our work.  Their question was always, "How can we support you?" not "Here's how to do it."

The role of community collaboration in creating real, lasting change

When we reunited a child with a family, it's not just a process, it's a story of restoration.  But we don't do it alone.  We involved the village chief, the school teacher, the local pastor, the neighbor who keeps an eye out.  These aren't just service providers.  They are protectors, connectors and champions.

Sustainable change happens when everyone has a role to play.  When a community feels that a child belongs to them, they stand up for that child.

This is why empowering local leadership is not just a development strategy, it's a commitment to dignity.  It's saying, "You are enough.  You are capable.  You are the answer."

Conclusion:  Change that lasts starts here

Sierra Leone, like many nations, faces enormous challenges.  But what gives me hope is the incredible strength and resilience I see in our local leaders every day, those in villages and cities, in schools and churches, in homes and offices.  These leaders aren't waiting to be rescued.  They're ready to lead.

Our job as practitioners, as partners, as allies, is to walk alongside them.  To provide tools, training, and trust.  To invest in their growth and believe in their potential

Because when local leaders rise, entire communities rise with them.  And that is how real, lasting, and sustainable change is born.  

Transitioning from orphanage care to family and community support is more than a change in operational strategy—it is a profound shift in mindset, purpose, and impact. The Empowerment Shift is about flipping the traditional model of aid upside down. It moves away from dependency-creating handouts toward a sustainable “hand-up” approach that restores dignity, builds resilience, and creates lasting change for families, communities, and the mission itself.
The Empowerment Shift is about putting families back at the center of care, equipping them to nurture, protect, and thrive together. This shift recognizes that:

• Empowering families is the best way to strengthen those in need of support and help them remain intact. Families are not the problem; they are the solution.
• Empowering communities strengthens the social fabric. Communities flourish when families are supported to thrive, creating a ripple effect of stability, hope, and growth.
• Empowering organizations aligns with mission and purpose. Transitioning to caring for children in families restores the dignity of aid work, ensuring it creates independence rather than dependence.
  
  

Empowerment restores dignity. When families are given the tools and resources to address their unique challenges, they are no longer passive recipients of aid but active participants in their journey to success. This empowerment shift provides:

• Dignity and Responsibility: Families take ownership of their futures through tailored support plans that align with their needs and strengths.
• Stability and Sustainability: By addressing root causes like poverty and lack of access to resources, families are set on a path to long-term self-reliance.
• Unity and Belonging: Reunifying children with their families heals emotional wounds and strengthens bonds that are vital for a child’s holistic development.

If you’d like to dive deeper into these ideas and explore more stories and practical insights, you can find The Empowerment Shift available on Amazon [HERE]. It offers a fuller picture of how this transformational approach is changing lives around the world.

This shift represents a profound alignment with the heart of the child welfare mission and ministry to care for children. It recognizes that caring for children means addressing not only their tangible needs—like food, shelter, and education—but also their intangible needs: the love, connection, and belonging that only a family can provide. Children thrive when their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met holistically. By transitioning to family care, this shift reflects a commitment to caring for the whole child and nurturing the bonds that give them the foundation to flourish. Families are the first and most enduring source of love and connection for children. When empowered, families can provide the stability and support that children need to grow, heal, and thrive in every aspect of their lives.
This shift is not the end of the mission but the beginning of its expansion. It transforms the approach to caring for children, creating opportunities to touch the lives of many more children, families, and communities. By empowering families and communities, this shift enables organizations and ministries to:

• Reach more children: Family care allows resources to be used more effectively, enabling support for a greater number of children and families in need.
  
  
• Strengthen communities: When families are restored, communities are strengthened. This shift builds a network of care and connection that ripples outward, fostering resilience and hope.
  
  
• Achieve long-term impact: Empowered families are better equipped to break cycles of poverty and vulnerability, creating lasting change for generations.
  
  

This shift reflects the deeper calling to not only meet immediate needs but to transform lives in a way that is sustainable and dignified. It is about giving children the love, security, and opportunities they need to thrive—not in isolation but within the embrace of a family and a supportive community. By embracing this empowerment shift, the mission to care for children grows beyond what was previously imagined. It transitions from a dependence model to one of partnership and collaboration, where families are supported to succeed and ministries are strengthened to fulfill their purpose on a greater scale.

This is not just a shift—it is a transformation. It is the beginning of a movement that puts love, dignity, and hope at the center of care. The Empowerment Shift is the gateway to a brighter, more connected, and more empowered future for all. When families are empowered, they grow stronger, children thrive, communities flourish, and the world becomes a better place for everyone.

One of the most common questions asked when discussing the transition from orphanage to family care is: who should initiate the shift? Is it the responsibility of the local stakeholders, such as the orphanage director, founder, or board of directors? Or should it come from the international donors and funding organizations, who often provide the financial resources to sustain the orphanage? The answer is both nuanced and simple: while the shift is most effective and sustainable when initiated by local stakeholders, it requires the full support, partnership, and resources of international donors and organizations to succeed. A truly transformational shift to family care is a collaborative process, intentionally designed to empower both local leaders and international partners to work together in a shared mission of advancing child welfare.
Typically, the most impactful shifts to family care are led by local stakeholders. While the initial idea may come from various parties, including partners or donors, it is essential for local leaders to take a leading role. This ensures the initiative is sustainable, as locally driven efforts are better positioned to understand and respond to community needs and long-term goals.