By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
Project manager for the Young Men Christian Association, YMCA, has disclosed that their Sum Project targeting communities in the capital city is being rolled out to commence five years of activities around young people.
Francis Anthony Reffell yesterday told Politico at their headquarters in Freetown that the project was initiated as a result of a documentary broadcast by British film producers Rise and Peas titled: “MAN DEN NOR GLADY.” He said the short film captured the minds of some British people who decided to fund their project.
”YMCA is youth-focused and the organisation therefore targets youths within the ages of 15-35,” he said.
He disclosed that Susan’s Bay, Mabayla, Cockle Bay were among others that would benefit from the project, adding that Dwazark and Kroo Bay would benefit from the Disaster Risk Management Fund.
Reffell also stated that his organisation was implementing the project in partnership with Centre of Dialogue on Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODSAPA).
”This project will provide training on various fields of learning, mainly technical education that will empower and transform young people in the slum community”, he added.
The project manager also said that they would implement a £1.9 million budget, adding that it would not solve all the problems at the slums, but rather they would mobilise slum dwellers into a federation that would create a voice and platform for engagement with stakeholders.
When contacted, the head of CODSAPA, who confirmed that her organisation was working in close partnership with YMCA to alleviate the problems of slum dwellers in the city, said they had already put measures in place to harmonise theirs with those of YMCA so that they could successfully roll out the project.
“We would like to see positive results when the project will have been completed”, he expressed hope.
Meanwhile, two targeted beneficiaries of the project, Sinneh Sesay of Kolleh Town and Edward Lecie of Culvert community, commended the YMCA for coming up with such brilliant initiative, adding that if fully implemented the project would transform their lives.
”I am impressed by those who have graduated from some other YMCA projects because they are doing well in their communities now”, one of them said.
© Politico 28/10/14
