By Mohamed T Massaquoi
A UK based group, Tools for Self Reliance, has funded the Hands Empowering the Less Privileged in Sierra Leone(HELP/SL) to collaborate with Local Action for Development(PAD/SL) in helping youth of Kpanga Karbondeh Chiefdom, Pujehun district.
Chief executive officer of HELP/SL, Siaffa Jobson Momoh,told Politico that the items, among them sewing machines to 18 youths doing tailoring and tools to those in the automechanics and carpentry businesses worth $10,000. He added that that was a means of improving the lives of young people in the district.
“As we are going through the human development cycle, these are people who have to transform into leaders of tomorrow and if we fail to invest in them it means we have failed to invest in the feature”, he said.Momoh also encouraged the government to focus on developing young people in both vocational trading and other meaningful careers,warning that 60% of the country’s population were youths.
He said the facilities would be extended to other district in the country, while encouraging beneficiaries to take proper care of the items so that they could become self-reliant.
Pujehun district youth councilchairman, Brima Fullah, commended the implementing organisations and thanked their funding partners on the donation. He pleaded to other organisations in the district for more support.
The executive director of PAD/SL, Abu Kemokai, said their assessment of who were to benefit from the donations was based on the commitment they demonstrated to their work.
Umu Magona, one of the beneficiaries, assured the benefactors that the items would be used for their intended purposes.
“Since I started tailoring I have never been able to buy a new sewing machine on my own. So I am really grateful”, she said.
(C) Politico 29/04/14
