The First Casa Leone Hospitality Students Have Officially Graduated

On May 20th, 2026, the first group of students from the Casa Leone Hospitality Training School in Sierra Leone officially graduated, marking a historic and deeply emotional moment for everyone involved in this project.

The ceremony, organized together with Caritas Freetown, brought together students, trainers, coordinators, and members of the local community to celebrate months of dedication, learning, and personal growth.

Through Fundación MAGA, Casa Leone was created with a clear purpose: to provide vulnerable young people with real opportunities through hospitality training. A project that goes far beyond teaching a profession. It is about opening doors, restoring hope, and giving young people the tools to build a more stable and independent future.

When we visited the school last December, the students were taking their very first steps in cooking, service, and bartending. Seeing them now graduate and prepared to enter the professional world fills us with pride.

Over the past months, the students have shown enormous commitment and growth. They have learned practical hospitality skills, but also discipline, teamwork, responsibility, and self-confidence. That is what truly makes this project so meaningful: the real possibility of changing the direction of a life.

 

 

During the ceremony, Caritas Freetown Executive Director Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh stated that “investing in young people is investing in the future of our nation,” adding that the students leave “not only with certificates, but also with confidence, professionalism, and renewed hope for the future.”

We would especially like to congratulate Isatu and Andreas for their incredible coordination, guidance, and continuous support throughout the entire process. Their dedication has been essential in making this first graduation possible.

This project also reflects the strong connection between hospitality and wine, two sectors closely linked to the origins of Fundación MAGA alongside Muriel Wines. Through the Foundation’s special solidarity wines, 100% of the proceeds are fully dedicated to supporting projects like Casa Leone and creating real opportunities on the ground.

You can learn more about our projects at Fundación MAGA and discover the solidarity wines supporting these initiatives at Muriel Wines.