Turning Waste into Opportunity: How Our Palm Oil Project Fuels Vocational Training in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, Teams4U’s vocational colleges are giving young vulnerable women the chance to break the cycle of poverty—by learning a trade, gaining independence, and building a future. These colleges offer women the skills and training they need to build independent, dignified futures through trades such as tailoring, catering, and hairdressing. But behind the scenes, there’s another story of innovation that helps keep these colleges running: our sustainable palm oil project.

Each year, thousands of palm kernels are discarded after the initial oil extraction process. Instead of letting this valuable resource go to waste, our team in Sierra Leone saw untapped potential in the waste palm oil kernels.

By collecting these leftover nuts and putting them through additional stages of processing—winnowing, washing, and extracting—we’re able to produce and sell rubber oil that is used by the local communities. Not only is this practice sustainable and environmentally friendly, but it also creates local employment and generates crucial income for the vocational colleges.

As the project grows, we hope to expand operations and increase impact. We’re currently fundraising for a new winnowing machine, which would improve efficiency and allow us to process more oil—supporting even more students. The profits from the palm oil business go directly into funding the vocational colleges—covering teacher salaries, buying equipment, and ensuring students have access to quality, hands-on education. Every bottle of oil sold supports a young woman’s journey out of poverty and into self-reliance.

If you’d like to invest in young women’s futures and help us build sustainable education pathways, get in touch or support our appeal today!
You or your business can sponsor a business start-up kit for a graduating student.
Schools can get involved too! Host a fundraiser and help keep the colleges running and thriving.

Join us. Let’s turn waste into opportunity.