Religions for Peace SIERRA LEONE Conducts “Training of Trainers” on COVID-19 Prevention and Awareness-raising for over 500 Diverse Faith Leade

A COVID-19 training and awareness-raising session was run by Religions for Peace’s Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) in partnership with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development in Freetown. An initial workshop was attended by 30 faith leaders from the Christian and Muslim traditions and representatives from the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Education.

The faith leaders were equipped with reliable information on proper handwashing and advice from the World Health Organisation on COVID-19 that they will share in their communities through religious services. The religious leaders have trained their peers in their local districts, for a total of 16 districts, with over 35 people trained per location.

In addition, IRCSL is facilitating a four-week television talk show where religious leaders will share information and prayers on COVID-19. These talk shows will be broadcast using the national television stations African Young Voices and The Sierras Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC).

Because radio is a primary and universal media platform in Sierra Leone, IRCSL has produced a two minutes “jingle” which is currently being aired on national and community radio stations across the country.

IRCSL has worked for decades to provide comprehensive, multi-religious responses to public health crises including Ebola and HIV/AIDS. The sustainable mechanism of interreligious councils allows RfP to quickly and efficiently mobilise religious communities across the globe, both in times of crisis, but also for lasting and sustainable peace.