By: Andrew Chokpeleh
Freetown, 17th November 2025- Stella’s Girls Inc. has organized a health walk over the weekend to raise awareness about the impact of kush and other harmful substances on women and girls in Sierra Leone. The event drew scores of young people, underscoring the urgency of addressing the country’s deepening drug crisis.
Stella’s Girls Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and protecting women and girls, used the walk to spotlight the unique vulnerabilities faced by female victims of substance abuse. CEO and Founder Kaprece James emphasized that drug addiction among women often leads to exploitation, with some being coerced into sex or exchanging it for drugs like kush.
“Women are not just victims of addiction, they’re victims of circumstance,” James said. “Many of them have dreams and potential, but kush is robbing them of their futures. We want to help them reclaim their lives.”
James noted that the organization’s efforts are designed to complement government initiatives, recognizing that state resources alone are insufficient to tackle the scale of the problem. She announced plans to roll out empowerment programs aimed at keeping women and girls meaningfully engaged and less susceptible to substance abuse.
Julius Bockarie Sahr James, Coordinator of Stella’s Girls Inc. Sierra Leone branch, revealed that the organization is working to establish a private rehabilitation center dedicated to kush victims. He acknowledged the financial challenges of such a venture and called for partnerships with other organizations to ensure effective care.
“Our goal is to make the center completely free,” Julius said. “We want to prioritize those with no family support, the homeless, and especially young women and girls who are at high risk of exploitation.”
Beyond detoxification, the center will offer counseling, vocational training, and reintegration services to help victims rebuild their lives. Julius stressed that true rehabilitation involves healing the mind, restoring confidence, and creating sustainable pathways to recovery.
“This is about more than quitting drugs,” he said. “It’s about giving people the tools to thrive.”
The health walk served as both a public awareness campaign and a call to action, reminding communities that addiction is not a moral failure but a public health issue. By walking alongside survivors and advocating for real solutions, Stella’s Girls Inc. is helping to transform stories of pain into journeys of hope.
As the organization continues its work, it sends a clear message: when compassion replaces judgment and action replaces silence, healing becomes possible. For many women and girls trapped in the cycle of addiction, that first step toward recovery begins with being seen, supported, and empowered.
