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Sk's Heart To Africa is a youth-led, non profit development initiative delivering pilot programs in education, youth employment, and community support across Sierra Leone. The organisation began through independently financed initiatives, demonstrating the capacity to design, fund, and deliver community-based programs with measurable impact. .
Our Leadership
Bennetta Sia Mendekia is a 23 year-old Sierra Leonean development practitioner and youth-focused social impact leader working across education, youth engagement, and community support initiatives. Having grown up across West Africa and Australia, her exposure to diverse social and cultural environments has informed a practical and grounded approach to community development.​
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In August 2025, Bennetta founded SK’s Heart To Africa as an independently financed, youth-led non-profit development initiative. From inception, she personally committed over AUD 25,000 to design, fund, and implement small-scale pilot programs that respond directly to community needs while demonstrating accountability, adaptability, and delivery capacity.​
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Within its first one months of operation, SK’s Heart To Africa reached over 1,800 individuals across Sierra Leone through youth employment initiatives, education support programs, and targeted community interventions. Bennetta’s work prioritises structured delivery, dignity, and outcomes that can be strengthened, adapted, and sustained over time.
Bennetta Sia Mendekia, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Projects in August 2025.
Since launching Sk's Heart To Africa in August 2025, we begun our very first set of community project, each one fully self- funded and driven by genuine desire to uplift Sierra Leone. In the month of August we reached 1050 Citizens of Sierra Leone. (Double click on picture below to watch the videos)
Community Support
This project was one of our most challenging yet most impactful initiatives. With a self-funded budget of $3000, cash assistance was distributed to over 850 citizens in several busy marketplaces and street communities.
School Donation
In this project, we partnered with local primary schools to support 170 students with essential learning and hygiene supplies for the whole semester. Each child received lunch bowls, notebook, stationary, snacks and for older girls, sanitary pads to support their dignity and confidence at school.
Youth employment & Beach clean up.
To support both the environment and local youth, Sk's Heart To Africa launched a weekly beach clean up at Lumley Beach. We employed 30 young men providing them with consistent work during the raining season. paying each individual 40 le per hour.
On December 26, 2025, Sk’s Heart To Africa took the center stage at the basketball court, partnering with Sk Bangs All Stars for a high-energy community fundraiser. We believe that sports are a vital tool for youth engagement, discipline, and unity.
To support the growth of local talent, Sk’s Heart To Africa proudly donated 15,000 NLE to the basketball federation. This contribution is dedicated to improving facilities and providing resources for young athletes who represent the future of Sierra Leonean sports. By investing in these 'All Stars,' we are investing in the leadership and health of our community. Sk Bangs provided each player with new basketball shoes and equiptments.
Orphanage Support Program:
SK’s Heart To Africa partnered with Sabique Orphanage to deliver structured, ongoing support to 80 vulnerable children. Each child receives a yearly a comprehensive care package including toiletries, food supplies, stationery, clothing, board games, bags of rice, and boxes of Indomie noodles.
This initiative forms part of our long-term commitment to child welfare, dignity, and sustainable community care.
(Video is spoken in Krio; English subtitles provided.)
Every child deserves a healthy start, and every mother deserves to feel supported. In one of our most heartfelt initiatives to date, Sk’s Heart To Africa provided comprehensive 'Newborn Necessity Packages' to 150 new mothers across our community.
Recognizing the financial and emotional challenges of early motherhood, each package included essential supplies—diapers, clothing, blankets, and hygiene products—to ensure the health and dignity of both mother and child. By alleviating the immediate burden of these costs, we are investing in the foundation of the family and the future of Sierra Leone’s next generation. (double click on picture to watch the video)
Keep up with what we are doing!
Upcomimg Projects
Moving forward, one of our key priorities is healthcare support. We plan to purchase essential medical supplies here in Australia, including basic hospital equipment and consumables, and ship them directly to hospitals in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This initiative aims to support frontline healthcare workers and improve access to essential medical resources in under-resourced facilities.
In addition, on the education side, we plan to support between 10 to 20 students who are at risk of dropping out due to financial challenges. Rather than focusing only on school fees, our goal is to provide holistic support, including learning materials and essential school needs to help them remain in school for an entire academic year.
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