Lois Simche Lebbie: Leave the door open (with a hundred sisters behind you)

When women gather, there is the notion that they are gossiping about other women, fashion, food and men. Well, this is not the case with Lois Simche Lebbie, a Community Development and Gender Specialist who has been in the game for over a decade. 

Out of her mouth comes wisdom, insights and knowledge. She took us down memory lane on how it all started, from the tender age when she battled with what most people struggle with — self-identity. From a burning question, she found the answer that was the light bulb moment that turned everything around.

Lois's story is a reminder that if she can, you can, and this brings a ray of hope to everyone who is trapped on a cloudy day. In our usual manner, Omote Ro Dhe caught up with Lois, and she shared interesting things about herself that you will find not only valuable but also delightful. 

Read excerpts from our 'gossipping' below:

Can you tell us about your early life and what sparked your interest in development work, especially gender advocacy?

"I grew up quiet, conditioned by relatives who dictated what a girl should be. My voice lived only on paper: diary pages swallowed my family's hurts, and handwritten letters mediated friendships. Even at boarding school, when bullies came, I hid behind friends who’d ‘make palava’ for me. Silence was my shield.

Then, during university holidays, an uncle asked the question that changed everything: ‘What are you passionate about?’ I answered simply: ‘I want to be the voice of the voiceless.’ He smiled gently and replied, ‘First, you must speak for yourself.’

That truth ignited me. I chose development studies, later working at the Ministry of Social Welfare. These spaces didn’t just align with my purpose—they forged it. With every policy drafted and every community served, I reclaimed my voice. The girl who wrote alone became the woman advocating fiercely for others. My silence had transformed into strength."

What does your name mean, and how has your identity shaped your journey?

I am known as Simche, as it is a gender-neutral name that has a beautiful and uplifting meaning of joy, happiness, and content. In the Jewish culture, it is believed that my name itself not only has the power to instil happiness in my life but constantly reminds me of my earthly purpose of keeping the power of joy and happiness within the hearts of individuals and communities I cross paths with. My name has helped to shape my unique purpose in life, which is creating a platform that will enable others to be happy, content, and live a successful life journey. This has consistently been my life blueprint, as I have always carried a positive emotion in helping others to seek constructive change.

You’ve worked with influential organisations like the World Bank, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, and the Transformative Women’s Initiative. Which role or project has been the most transformative for you and why?

My work as the Ebola response coordinator at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in Bo has been a remarkable job that created a transformative pathway in my career. I was the youngest and a female appointed for that role. I navigated initial scepticism from some colleagues regarding my age and gender. The risk at that time was high, especially when knowledge of the virus was still evolving. My commitment was not only to coordinate actions of NGOs for effective service delivery to vulnerable populations or manage donor reporting, but also to the deep fulfilment I found in providing direct emotional support to Ebola-affected and infected people.

No two days were the days, from working alongside contact tracers in mapping out Ebola hotspots houses while counselling families on compliance, to collaborating with nutritionists to ensure quarantined homes have the required food supplements more especially in homes that had babies, and to visiting treatment centres to offer hope and support to Ebola survivors.

In all of these, I acquired essential capacities: firm commitment, learning to use my voice as a tool to advocate for those in need, and, most importantly, balancing the needs of diverse stakeholders. I also learnt how to be productive amid limited resources, as I could vividly remember walking up to high-level donors to successfully advocate for including dignitary kits for female survivors within essential non-food item distributions.

I served from the heart, and that demanding platform basically shaped me into the dedicated social development and project management consultant I am today. I remain grateful to those senior colleagues at the ministry who believed in me and shared an unwavering commitment to serving humanity during that critical time." Thank you, Madam Mariatu Bangura, Director Ibrahim Kamara, Chief Sinnah, Director Vandi and Madam Goodie Sowonie.

Gender-based violence and child trafficking are complex issues. How do you approach these topics when designing policies or interventions? 

Child trafficking and all forms of gender-based violence are human rights issues that require a collaborative and holistic approach. Through a gender-sensitive mindset, I have walked with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organisations, communities, and international bodies, in designing and implementing interventions that address the underlying factors that contribute to violence, such as unequal power dynamics, gender stereotypes, and harmful social norms. In developing policies, it has been a mantra to always employ the human rights principles that are consistent with the survivor-centred approach that includes safety and confidentiality, empowerment, and access to services.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a woman working in development and policy spaces in Africa?

Women in general are faced with diverse challenges in all spheres of development, and the key issues I have encountered as a woman revolve around structural and cultural barriers that take into cognisance societal expectations of being a good wife, caring mom, and professional woman. All of these expectations do have an undertone of gender norms, stereotypes, and intersectional vulnerabilities. Moreover, prioritising all of these places puts an extra burden on the life of a woman. This double burden of proof means I always have to work extra hard to show competence in my workspace and unpaid care work. Honestly, I can conclude that I am not only putting up with time poverty but also contending with other key challenges in the development and policy space, such as underinvestment in the sector, limited gender accountability to track policy implementation, and existing patriarchal institutional cultures that are resistant to change. However, despite these challenges, African women like me are driving transformative changes as we continue fixing our crowns towards achieving SDGs 5 (Gender Equality) and 16 (Inclusive Institutions).

If you could play the role of any historical or fictional character, who would it be and why?

My country, Sierra Leone, has notable historical female figures such as Ella Koblo Gulama, Constance Cummings-John, Nancy Steele, Madam Yoko, Shirley Gbujama, and Irene Ighodaro. Amongst these names, I do align more with Madam. Ella Koblo Gulama, commonly called Madam, is the first elected female Member of Parliament in Sierra Leone and the first woman to hold a ministerial position in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Despite being a stateswoman, she was a good wife and caring mother to her children, which is contrary to the societal belief that successful women do not produce good homes. What attracted me to her was her zest to empower women in her chiefdom by bringing formal education to Moyamba, supporting girl child education, and making major reforms in the fight against women’s violence. 

Finally, as a woman of substance, she never gave up on her dreams. In 1953, Madam was crowned the PC of Moyamba, which made her the first woman in the history of Moyamba to be crowned PC by defeating fifteen buttered men who thought a woman should not rule the chiefdom. Despite going through prison for two years, she contested again and won 98% of the total votes, and she regained her crown.

What do you wish more people understood about the role of women in shaping development in West Africa?

The women across West Africa are not the future leaders, as most people may think. We are currently the leaders of our time, and in shaping sustainable development across Africa, existing women-led resources and systems should be recognised. Also, it would be relevant for people to note that the growing trend across West Africa is grounded in women's networks implementing the UBUNTU leadership style through radical collaboration. We are gradually becoming the engineers of the economic system as we continue building parallel structures to create community safety nets, especially for other vulnerable women and children.

Success is relative. What does it mean to you? Who are some women who are your yardstick of being successful?

Success lives where purpose meets spirit: I am fulfilled when steadying crowns on my sisters’ heads. When my voice becomes the whisper on their backs saying, ‘Fall seven times, stand eight—your light was made for rising.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Dr. Isata Mahoi (Sierra Leone), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria), Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Chad), Graca Machel (Mozambique). These successes of these women are not just about their personal achievements, but they are using their talents, skills, and resources to shape the African continent. Their respective achievements have inspired generations, reduced myths, and built the potential of other women and innovators across the region. These women are not only breaking barriers but also championing inclusion.

What advice would you give to young African women who want to make an impact?

My dear sister, your identity is your power; why not change the narratives by writing your own story? It doesn’t have to start later, but now by building your own ecosystem, creating your tribe with a blend of practical collaboration with the sisterhood, and investing in one sister at a time.

Hey woman, you are a descendant of women who built economies, negotiated peace, and advocated for equality. Your impact isn’t subject to societal validation. Start small, think in decades, and leave the door open—with a hundred sisters behind you.