By Nasratu Kargbo
The Foundation for Rural and Urban Transformation (FoRUT) has launched its second strategic plan with the aim of influencing and supporting beneficiaries of their various activities to take leadership roles for their own development.
The strategic plan was launched on the 10th December 2021 at the Saphirre Hall, Family Kingdom with the theme: “Supporting Communities to Eradicate Poverty and Reduce Inequalities and Social Exclusion (SURPRISE 2.0)”.
The Board Chair Rev. Christiana Sutton-Koroma said the theme is geared towards influencing and supporting the beneficiaries to actively participate in development programmes for their own good. She explained that the strategic plan is set to guide the work of the institution in the next five years, which spans from 2021-2025. She noted that this plan will provide a pathway for them to streamline their work with the aim of responding to development needs in the communities they serve.
Speaking as a beneficiary Isha Kamara from Old Wharf Community highlighted the engagements organized by FORUT such as raising awareness on the effect of alcohol, domestic and violence. She explained that her community was a very lawless one, but with the education FoRUT has given members of the community, “things are a lot better now”.
She mentioned about pregnant women and suckling mothers being educated about the dangers of delivering a baby at home and the benefits of taking a baby to the hospital for vaccines.
World Bank’s Senior Education Specialist Dr. Mari Shojo said she has read the strategic plan and expressed delight, noting that the plan indicates how it would contribute to achieving long, mid and short term goals of the organization. It also highlighted the impact it would create in transforming the lives of the people.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swarray said the strategic plan aligns and resonates with the government’s medium term national development plan.
He said he was gratified to know that FoRUT involved stakeholders in the creation of the strategic plan. He said it took the consideration of interested parties and ensured that the process was in line with the country’s medium term national development plan.
The Minister said “With this level of consultation, I am positive that plan will play an important role in the realization of the Sierra Leone’s medium term national development plan”.
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