Diary Entry
SierraBerry Chocolate
One App,
Many Uses
During a recent global development training program, I had the opportunity to design my first employment-oriented project, one that holds deep personal significance. This experience marked a milestone in my learning journey and allowed me to combine classroom knowledge with real-world observation.
The training, organized by TİKA, spanned five days from September 1st to 5th, 2025, and brought together female students from across Türkiye. TİKA is an institution dedicated to supporting economic, social, and humanitarian development globally while preserving shared historical and cultural heritage. On the final day, we were tasked with designing and presenting our own projects. While I had drafted smaller initiatives before, this was the first time I approached a project with defined budgets, a target country, and pre-assigned advantages and limitations.
Our focus was Sierra Leone, particularly Freetown, where youth unemployment is high, arable land is scarce, and the minimum wage is only $57 per month. My project, SierraBerry, was born from the idea of bringing strawberry seeds and fertilizers from Türkiye to establish a 1.5-acre greenhouse.
The greenhouse would serve as both a workspace and a training ground for local youth. Later, harvested strawberries would be processed and combined with chocolate to create a unique brand called “SierraBerry,” sold locally to promote youth employment and entrepreneurship.
Strawberries were chosen intentionally. Across many cultures, they symbolize freshness, sweetness, and joy. Their rarity in tropical regions like Sierra Leone creates novelty and economic potential. Chocolate, likewise, was deliberate, it is universally loved, evokes celebration, and bridges cultures. Combining strawberries and chocolate, SierraBerry aimed to foster both economic growth and cultural connection.
My inspiration came not only from global development knowledge but also from personal experience. Last year, I worked part-time as a waitress in a pastry shop and observed the rising popularity of “Dubai chocolate.” Witnessing chocolate production firsthand and seeing consumer demand shape the market helped me understand how small-scale innovation could create tangible impact.
Beyond financial goals, SierraBerry focuses on empowerment. The project aims to train local youth, especially women, in agricultural and entrepreneurial skills. By providing knowledge, mentorship, and opportunities to manage a small business, it seeks to instill ownership, dignity, and hope. This initiative is about planting more than strawberries, it is about planting confidence, resilience, and sustainability.
Even though SierraBerry has not yet been implemented, it remains a symbol of creativity, perseverance, and the belief that small ideas can grow into meaningful change. For me, this project represents the intersection of education, observation, and the desire to contribute to the world in a responsible and humane way.
Through this diary, I hope to inspire young people and women entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams. Success is not solely about profit; it is about fostering empowerment, cultivating community, and valuing humanity. Sometimes, the safest and most meaningful path is the one that prioritizes these values over commercial gain. SierraBerry is a testament to that belief.
Peri Rana Eşki