By Mary Kabay
A powerful fusion of sport and social advocacy is underway in Sierra Leone. The nationwide “Goal for Safe Migration” football tournament, which officially launched in Freetown’s Portee community, represents a strategic, community-centered campaign tackling three interconnected crises: irregular migration, human trafficking, and gender-based violence (GBV). Funded by the Government of Sweden and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this month-long initiative (December 1–20, 2025) is more than a series of matches—it’s a targeted intervention designed to reach thousands of vulnerable youth in high-risk urban and peri-urban areas where misinformation and desperation often take root.
The choice of football as the vehicle is deliberate and insightful. In Sierra Leone, where the sport commands near-universal passion, it provides a rare, trusted platform to engage young people who may be skeptical of formal lectures or government messaging. The opening match, where Portee triumphed over Peacock Farm before large, energetic crowds, set the stage for a knockout tournament involving 16 teams from 11 communities, including Lumley, Kroo Bay, and Waterloo. The schedule builds toward semi-finals on December 17–18 and a grand finale on December 20. But the real competition isn’t just for trophies; it’s a battle for the minds and futures of a generation.
The Multi-Layered Game Plan: Education Within Entertainment
Each game day is meticulously structured to deliver critical information alongside entertainment. This model recognizes that to change behavior, you must first secure attention. Officials from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Taskforce, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Transnational Organized Crime Unit, and IOM lead interactive sessions. They move beyond generic warnings to dissect the specific modus operandi of traffickers—such as fake job offers, fraudulent travel agencies, and debt bondage schemes—prevalent in the region. Theatrical performances dramatize real cases, making the risks visceral, while testimonies from returned migrants provide stark, firsthand accounts of the dangers of irregular routes, including exploitation in transit and modern slavery in destination countries.
A poignant halftime feature, “Orange the World,” directly links the tournament to the global 16 Days of Activism Against GBV. This segment is crucial for highlighting the intersectionality of the issues: women and girls attempting irregular migration are at exponentially higher risk of sexual violence and trafficking. As spectators wave orange ribbons, advocates explain how GBV is both a root cause and a consequence of unsafe migration. Volunteers then distribute practical resources—leaflets detailing GBV referral pathways, legal migration channels via the Sierra Leonean immigration department, and anonymous community reporting mechanisms—transforming solidarity into actionable knowledge.
Quotes from the Frontlines
IOM Officer in Charge for Sierra Leone, Pauline Macharia, framed the initiative’s core philosophy: “Football has a unique power to unite, inspire, and educate. This tournament allows us to meet young people where they are, in a space they love, to counter the dangerous narratives peddled by smugglers with hope and factual alternatives. The community turnout in Portee isn’t just for sport; it’s a collective stand for protection and prevention.”
A representative from the ATIP Secretariat emphasized community agency: “Traffickers thrive in shadows and silence. Our best defense is an informed, vigilant community. When young people can recognize the red flags—like offers that seem too good to be true or demands for large upfront fees—and when neighbors feel empowered to report suspicious activities, we dismantle the traffickers’ networks from the ground up.”
Building Resilience On and Off the Field
The tournament’s objectives extend beyond immediate awareness. In partnership with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), organizers are intentionally promoting positive masculinity, teamwork, and discipline—values that directly counter the social norms that can fuel violence and exploitation. “Special message” segments during matches reinforce that respect, unity, and fair play are non-negotiable, both on the pitch and in daily life. This holistic approach aims to build psychological and social resilience, offering young people a positive identity and community belonging as alternatives to the perilous search for opportunity abroad.
Early feedback suggests the model is resonating. Community leaders report a noticeable shift: increased specific knowledge of trafficking tactics, greater familiarity with GBV support services, and stronger bridges between youth and protective institutions. Parents and spectators express feeling better equipped to challenge the alluring myths about “easy” life abroad that circulate in their communities.
The “Goal for Safe Migration” initiative demonstrates a profound understanding of effective social change. It leverages a national passion to deliver life-saving information, fosters community-level protective networks, and provides a positive, engaging alternative to the narratives of despair. By targeting youth aged 15–30, along with the parents and leaders who influence them, the program seeks to create a sustainable ecosystem of awareness and vigilance.
As the tournament progresses, its ultimate goal is clear: to ensure that the final whistle marks not just the end of a game, but the beginning of a more informed, empowered, and safer future for Sierra Leone’s youth. The victory sought is measured not in goals scored, but in exploitations prevented, lives protected, and communities strengthened in their collective fight against trafficking, violence, and despair.