Young Sierra Leoneans in the USA came out in numbers on September 13th 2008 at the Viking Center, Maryland for the Second Annual Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Conference (SLYEC-USA). Young Sierra Leoneans travelled from several States such as Texas, Florida, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey and others to attend a very productive conference.
The 2008 SLYEC-USA consisted of several speakers, a presentation on ’Collective Action and Civic Participation’, 9 workshops on several key issues in Sierra Leone, and a Panel Discussion centered on the theme of "Exploring the Role of Youth in the Diaspora in Creating Development in Sierra Leone." The Conference ended with a Gala in the evening, where delegates had the opportunity to dialogue with Actor Isaiah Washington, who unveiled his initiative to reach 1 million children in Sierra Leone.
Amadu Massally, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Gullah Heritage Association and the Sierra Leone Network, gave a presentation on “Collective Action and Civic Participation”. He gave several examples on how Sierra Leoneans and organizations can work collectively to achieve a shared vision. In his presentation, Amadu emphasized the role of civil society in the Sierra Leone development process. He spoke about past and current civil society groups such as the West African Youth League, ENCISS, Coalition of Civil Society and the Sierra Leone Network. Amadu also centered on the concept of collective action and gave several examples of Sierra Leonean groups working together to achieve a shared vision, such as the National Coordinating Committee for Peace which worked diligently to bring peace back to Sierra Leone during the country’s civil war. He termed civil society organizations as the ‘medium of nationalism’ stressing that although it is okay for these organizations to be in sync with the GoSL, the organizations’ principles should never be compromised.
Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Bockarie Stevens spoke to delegates about the Sierra Leone development process and how Sierra Leoneans in the USA can get involved. The Ambassador stated that he was impressed to see young Sierra Leoneans engaged and expressed hope in the aims of SLYEC and the positive effects young Sierra Leoneans can have on the Sierra Leone development process. Among several issues touched on by the Ambassador, he stressed on the principle of accountability and the importance it has in the development process. The Ambassador also spoke about the Sierra Leone Council of Representatives (SALCORE) and mentioned the progress the umbrella entity has made in bringing Sierra Leonean organizations in the USA together, represented under a common platform. He stated that young Sierra Leoneans are the future of Sierra Leone and through their collective efforts a lot can be achieved towards development in Sierra Leone.
Eleanor Thompson, a Harvard Graduate and the original visionary of SLYEC, gave the Keynote Address and mentioned several areas of youth development, particularly the role of young professionals in the development process. Eleanor emphasized the importance of embracing one’s identity as she spoke on the emerging trend of being an Afropolitan. According to Eleanor, Afropolitans are young professionals with ties to the African continent, who albeit their connection with the West, are geared towards the advancement of their African country. She spoke about the complex but positive perspective that Afropolitans have about Africa, emphasizing that Afropolitans identify the root causes to the problems facing Africa. Eleanor expressed her amazement at the resilience of Sierra Leoneans and stressed the importance of embracing this resilience as young Sierra Leoneans in their continued efforts towards development in Sierra Leone.
She mentioned several early pioneers such as Dr. Karefa Smart and I.T.A. Wallace Johnson, emphasizing on the importance of acknowledging the efforts of early pioneers in paving the way for young Sierra Leoneans today and encouraged delegates to strive to become an inspiration to others as well. Eleanor spoke on the importance of unlocking the potential of young Sierra Leoneans, stressing that approximately 65% of Sierra Leone’s population are under the age of 34 and that in 2015, 75% of the population will be under the age of 34. She termed youth as the backbone of Sierra Leone’s economy and emphasized on the lack of input from young people in the policies affecting them. Eleanor emphasized that young Sierra Leoneans do not need to get into politics to participate in the development process, as entrepreneurs, artists, and others also have a role to play in the development process.
Eleanor shared several tips for young Sierra Leoneans engaging in the development process, such as developing sustainable plans of action and avoiding approaches that reinforces the current stereotypes of youth in Sierra Leone. She gave examples of young Sierra Leoneans currently involved in Sierra Leone’s development process, such as Adama Kaikai who recently opened up a Boutique’ in Freetown and Yeniva Sisay who is successfully implementing EXCEL, which provides high quality standards and research-based, supplemental education services to secondary school students, educators, and youth ex-combatants in Sierra Leone.
The Panel Discussion centered on the theme of “Exploring the Role of Youth in the Diaspora in Creating Development in Sierra Leone”. Panelists included David Sengeh, an Engineering Sciences student at Harvard University; Heather Cole-Lewis, a PhD. Candidate at Yale University; and Jerrie Kumalah, pursuing her Graduate Degree in Public Health at the University of North Carolina. Each Panelist spoke on their experience working on initiatives in Sierra Leone this year, such as a Women’s Health Reproductive Research initiative, worked on collectively by Heather and Jerrie.
The first Workshop session included Aminata Wurie, a recent University of Texas Graduate in Social Work and Pauline Pratt, Programme Budget Officer at the United Nations who facilitated the Public Policy Workshop; Daniel Koroma, Assistant Vice President of Bank of America Small Business facilitated the Business & Entrepreneurship Workshop; Haroun Habib, an MPH Graduate of Boston University and Masiray Kamara, a current Graduate student at Temple University School of Medicine facilitated the Public Health and Medicine Workshop.
The second Workshop session included Susan Shepler, Assistant Professor of International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University and Salifu Kamara, co-founder of the Global Network for Disabled People - SL who facilitated the Human Rights and Law Workshop; Amadu Massally, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Gullah Heritage Association and Sierra Leone Network facilitated the Collective Action and Civic Participation Workshop; Tamba Lamin, CEO of SaloneTech facilitated the Media and Technology Workshop. The third and final Workshop session included Chidimma Jones, PhD candidate in International Educational Development at Columbia University and Abu Lamin who facilitated the Education Workshop; Leeann Rizk facilitated the Women’s Development / Gender Issues Workshop; Salone JR, prominent Singer and Songwriter, Joseph Weaver, presenter of SPLASH on African Internet Radio and PhD candidate in Health Care Management, and Ray, Sierra Leonean Artist facilitated the Arts and Entertainment Workshop.
Actor Isaiah Washington, Keynote Speaker at the evening Gala, spoke to young Sierra Leoneans about his aim to reach one million children in Sierra Leone as well as the Gondobay Manga Foundation. Washington recently discovered, through DNA testing, his genetic link to the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone. According to Washington, the Reach One Million campaign is committed to providing access to food, education, chemically-treated bed nets to fight against malaria, and clean drinking water to one million children in Sierra Leone. Reach One Million engages the world community by showing them the steps one person can take to ’reach one million’ children in Sierra Leone. Washington called on delegates and guests at the SLYEC-USA Gala to become part of this effort and challenged young Sierra Leoneans to become representatives of Sierra Leone in America. Washington asked guests and delegates to utilize him effectively in the interest of Sierra Leone’s development. Guests were also entertained by several performances by Salone JR as well as a cultural presentation on the various ethnic groups in Sierra Leone.
The 2nd Annual 2008 Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Conference continues our work in promoting youth awareness and participation in the Sierra Leone post-conflict reconstruction process. The first ever SLYEC was held in Maryland from September 1st - 2nd 2007. Over 200 youth delegates traveled from several States, including Texas, Atlanta, New York, Boston, North Carolina, California, and Philadelphia. Since last year’s conference, several of the delegates have since travelled to Sierra Leone, embarking on initiatives geared towards development in the country. Most notable of them is Yeniva Sisay who relocated to Sierra Leone and is now implementing her initiative ‘EXCEL’ through Sierra Visions Inc.
Post-SLYEC 2007 has evolved into a network of young Sierra Leonean professionals contributing their collective skills, talents, and resources towards development in Sierra Leone. This year’s 2008 SLYEC-USA, SLYEC-UK, and SLYEC-SL will continue this effort to expand the network of young dedicated Sierra Leoneans, working collectively towards development in Sierra Leone. The United Kingdom will also be hosting its first SLYEC-UK on November 1st 2008, and we expect more young Sierra Leoneans in the UK and other parts of Europe to also join this global effort. SLYEC-SL will also be held in Freetown, Sierra Leone later this year.
The conference organizers are currently developing a Post-SLYEC network filled with many exciting features that will allow delegates who attended the conferences to transform dialogue from the workshop, panel, and speakers into practical action-oriented solutions towards development in Sierra Leone. The complete 2008 SLYEC Report will also be disseminated to all stakeholders at its completion.
To register for the 2008 SLYEC-UK, which will take place in the United Kingdom on November 1st 2008, please visit www.slyec.saloneyouth.net The Keynote Speaker for the SLYEC-UK will be award-winning Sierra Leonean Journalist, Sorious Samura, best known for two CNN documentary films: Cry Freetown (2000) and Exodus from Africa (2001). Workshop Facilitators at this UK Conference will also include Ade Daramy, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Diaspora Network; Unisa Dizo-Conteh editor and publisher of award-winning Cotton Tree Magazine; Nicholas Asgill, a young Sierra Leonean filmmaker residing in London, and several other notable participants.
The 2008 SLYEC-USA conference organizers wish to thank all of the Sponsors, Patrons, Participants, Delegates, and all who have been involved in making the USA Conference a success. We look forward to the second SLYEC this year taking place in the UK and wish the organizers and participants success in achieving an effective 2008 SLYEC-UK.
Photo: Conference participants.
Photo credit: SLYEC website.
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