THE AGRIBUSINESS HUB

The Agribusiness Hub is the name of the campus that will house four facilities that will improve the quality of life of the people in Foindu, Sierra Leone.

  • The facility that will house classrooms and gathering spaces to support the educational & vocational training programs for women & other community members

  • The part of The Hub that will provide access to a public restroom and waste management processing center.

  • The facility in which rainwater will be harvested, filtered, stored, & distributed to all facilities at The Agribusiness Hub.

  • The facility that will provide for the energy needs of the campus using a combination of sustainable energy options, such as solar panels and no-waste technologies.

Impact Vocational Training Center

Education. Vocation. Community. Gender Equality.

Image Courtesy New Atlas

What is the Impact Vocational Training Center?

The Impact Vocational Training Center is a dedicated facility designed to empower 40 women from the Foindu community each year by providing training in income-generating skills of their choice. The center includes a large, multi-purpose classroom capable of hosting multiple classes simultaneously. Additionally, the facility is equipped with several traditional-sized classrooms suitable for independent class pods, demonstrations, guest lectures, and other educational activities.

What does the Training Center offer at The Agribusiness Hub?

The Impact Vocational Training Center is set to begin operations in 2025, providing training in sustainable technology, sewing, facilities management, plumbing, electrical work, and first aid & emergency preparedness. Additionally, the facility will serve as a hub for community education workshops and various social engagement activities for the residents of Foindu, enhancing both skill development and community cohesion.

Which Sustainable Development Goals does the Vocational Training Center address?

Impact Sierra Leone is dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within Sierra Leone. The Impact Vocational Training Center specifically contributes to these global objectives by focusing on SDG 4: Quality Education, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities. It supports SDG 5: Gender Equality, by empowering women through skills training. The center also aligns with SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth, by equipping individuals with the skills needed for decent employment, and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, & Infrastructure, by fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure through vocational training.

How is Impact Sierra Leone going to get the Vocational Training Center constructed?

Impact Sierra Leone and its partners are committed to utilizing innovative and rigorously researched sustainable building techniques for the construction of the Vocational Center. This collaborative effort involves professional architects, engineers, interior designers, and the citizens of Foindu working together to create a facility that is sustainable, ergonomic, and visually appealing. Our professional partners are generously donating their expertise to ensure the design is both functional and suitable for the region's needs and its specific purposes. Additionally, community members will contribute sweat equity, building the center under the guidance and support of our skilled team. The construction process will emphasize sustainability by incorporating recycled and earth materials, alongside the community’s sweat equity.

How are the donations to this Seed of Educational & Vocational Training being used?

Donations for the construction of the Impact Vocational Training Center specifically will be collected through our trusted partners at Global Giving. Fifteen percent of these donations will go towards the cost of building materials and stipends for Impact Sierra Leone’s volunteer staff on the ground in Sierra Leone. The stipends will help our volunteer staff with transportation of materials and people, feeding the community, and supporting the local clinic that will provide emergency and health oversight during the build.

Who is responsible for the management of funds & stewardship?

Yeabu Conteh, Impact Sierra Leone, is our professional fundraiser. She will be collaborating with the team, including our partners and financial advisors, to execute the fundraising plan. Our partners at Conteh & Brown Group will also collaborate with Yeabu for responsible and robust stewardship.

Impact Sanitation Center

Sanitation. Waste Management. Women’s Infrastructure.

Image Courtesy Container Concepts

What is the Impact Sanitation Center?

The Impact Sanitation Center is a dedicated restroom and waste management facility where the Foindu community’s waste will be sorted and managed by staff at the Hub. Alongside the sustainable restroom design, the center includes extensive means of sorting and collecting waste from the following categories: compost, plastic food containers, plastic non-food item containers, glass, and paper. Biohazard waste will also be managed at an adjacent section for first aid and medical waste materials.

What does the Sanitation Center offer at The Agribusiness Hub?

The Impact Sanitation Center is set to begin operations in 2025, providing a clean and convenient restroom and washroom for the entire community. The Sanitation Center will offer women and children of Foindu safe and clean areas to care for the toileting needs of infants, toddlers, children, the elderly, and the disabled. The restrooms are designed by women for women. Woman are often caretakers of vulnerable populations. The Impact Sanitation Center will offer all communities members a dignified place to use the restroom, but will especially cater to the caregiver needs of women in Foindu. This is what we refer to as women’s infrastructure.

Which Sustainable Development Goals does the Impact Sanitation Center address?

Impact Sierra Leone is committed to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sierra Leone, and the Impact Sanitation Training Center plays a crucial role in this mission by addressing four key SDGs:

  1. SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation – The center’s bathroom facilities will ensure access to clean water and improved sanitation, directly enhancing the community’s health and hygiene.

  2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The sanitation center is fully powered by solar and other renewable energy sources, demonstrating our commitment to clean energy solutions.

  3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The facility's maintenance and repairs will be handled by women trained at the Vocational Training Center, promoting innovation in local industries and enhancing community infrastructure.

  4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – By providing consistent access to potable water, clean energy, and waste management, the center fosters a sustainable and healthier community in Foindu, Sierra Leone.

How will the Impact Sanitation Center be constructed?

This initiative brings together professional plumbers, architects, sustainable technology engineers, interior designers, and the citizens of Foindu to create a sustainable, ergonomic, and visually appealing facility. Our partners are generously contributing their expertise to design a center that aligns with regional needs and intended functions, while prioritizing the use of sustainable and recycled materials. Community members will contribute sweat equity, constructing the facility under the guidance of our skilled team. Emphasizing sustainability, the construction will utilize recycled and natural materials, and accessibility for individuals with disabilities will be a key focus and commitment of the project.

What funds are covering this construction?

Yeabu Conteh, co-founder of Impact Sierra Leone, leads our fundraising efforts. Fifty percent of the contributions raised through our Global Giving platform are dedicated to procuring the tools, supplies, and professional services essential for constructing this state-of-the-art sanitation facility.

Foindu Sustainable Water Center

Water Access. Rainwater Harvesting.

Image Courtesy Use Rainwater

What is the Foindu Sustainable Water Center?

The Foindu Sustainable Water Center is a facility that will use rainwater harvesting and renewable filtration processes to provide potable water to the community of Foindu. The roof of the entire campus will be designed to efficiently collect rainwater. The rainwater will be directed to the Foindu Sustainable Water Center where it will be filtered, sanitized, and distributed as drinkable water to visitors of The Agribusiness Hub. At the Water Center, rainwater can be stored for extended periods for emergency use in large water tanks. Additionally, the technology that will be used to clean and pump water throughout the facility will be conveniently located at the Water Center and engage clean energy for its electrical requirements.

What does the Sustainable Water Center offer at The Agribusiness Hub?

The Foindu Sustainable Water Center is set to begin operations in 2025, offering potable water for the community, gray water system for vegetation and gardens, a steam cleaning station, and recycled container storage for community members to put water in and travel to their homes.

Which Sustainable Development Goals does the Sustainable Water Center address?

Impact Sierra Leone is committed to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sierra Leone. The Sustainable Water Center directly supports SDG #6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG #9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). By providing access to potable water and sanitation facilities, the center lays the foundation for improved public health and environmental sustainability (SDG #6). Additionally, consistent access to clean water and sanitation resources represents a critical step forward in the development of sustainable infrastructure (SDG #9), fostering long-term community resilience and growth.

How is Impact Sierra Leone going to get the Foindu Sustainable Water Center constructed?

Impact Sierra Leone, in partnership with its collaborators, will coordinate the delivery of essential tools and supplies required for the construction of the Sustainable Water Center. A key feature of this facility includes a specially designed shipping container with dedicated compartments to securely house electrical equipment for water distribution. Adjacent to this structure, water tanks and advanced sanitation systems will be installed on solid foundations, ensuring efficient and reliable water management for the community.

What funds are covering this construction?

Our secured donation partner is Global Giving. Fifteen percent of the donations raised on our Global Giving platform will be applied towards the Foindu Sustainable Water Center construction.

Who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of this facility?

In the first year, ten of the forty women enrolled at the Impact Vocational Training Center will receive specialized training in plumbing. Upon graduation, these women will be employed full-time by The Hub as professional plumbers, responsible for the cleaning, maintenance, and enhancement of the rainwater harvesting facilities.

Clean Energy Center

Solar Farming. Free Electricity. Sustainable Energy.

What is the Clean Energy Center?

The Clean Energy Center at the Agribusiness Hub is a dedicated facility designed to house state-of-the-art technology and equipment for renewable energy generation. By harnessing solar power and other sustainable energy sources, the center will provide reliable and eco-friendly electricity to meet the full energy demands of the Agribusiness Hub, setting a standard for innovation and sustainability in the region.

What does the Clean Energy Center offer at The Agribusiness Hub?

Scheduled to launch in 2025, the Clean Energy Center will fulfill all energy requirements of the Agribusiness Hub. Beyond its primary function, the center will serve as a hands-on training facility, empowering the women of Foindu with skills in the electrical and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, the Clean Energy Center will integrate with campus-wide waste management initiatives, utilizing waste materials as fuel and inputs for sustainable energy processes, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.

Which Sustainable Development Goals does the Clean Energy Center address?

Impact Sierra Leone is committed to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sierra Leone. The Clean Energy Center directly supports SDG #7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG #9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). By providing reliable access to renewable energy, the center represents a significant step forward in Foindu's infrastructural development, fostering innovation and sustainability within the community.

How will the solar and other sustainable technology be maintained?

The Clean Energy Center will be maintained and serviced by women who receive specialized vocational training and certification at the Impact Vocational Training Center. Each year, 40 women will graduate from the Vocational Center with skills in various trades, including electrical and renewable energy industries. From each cohort, ten women will be trained specifically in energy sectors, equipping them with the expertise to manage and sustain the Clean Energy Center. Alongside dedicated community volunteers, these trained professionals will ensure the facility operates efficiently, empowering local women and fostering community resilience.