Alpha Kamara is from the Bakolo community in the Lokomasama chiefdom, Port Loko district. He holds a diploma in social work and for the past eight years has campaigned against female genital mutilation and been a women's rights activist. Presently, he works with AIM Sierra Leone, a local organization leading the campaign against female circumcision. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Breaking the Silence on Female Genital Mutilation

This project helped break the silence on the practice of female genital mutilation in the Port Loko district of Sierra Leone. Some 350 people in six communities were educated on the socio-economic, health and psychological effects that female genital mutilation can have on society, not only women and children. Women’s group leaders were educated on how to mitigate and report violence.

IVLP Exchange Experience

Kamara participated in the IVLP Project Women and Entrepreneurship, organized by the U.S. Department of State and CRDF Global, in partnership with Global Ties Alabama, Global Ties Sacramento, Global Ties Akron, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, and Columbia Council for Internationals.

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Huntsville, AL; Sacramento, CA; Washington, DC; Charlotte, NC; Akron, OH; Cleveland, OH

"I never dreamed about success, I worked for it. I learned from IVLP that success is never guaranteed in life or in business. You can dream all you want for success, but true success comes to those that work for it. There are challenges that must be confronted; as you work for success, you cannot let those challenges block your path." - Alpha Kamara

Country: Sierra Leone

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