By Abass Jalloh
More than 50 young people including school-going pupils from various schools across Sierra Leone had the opportunity to participate in a one-week National Youth Exhibition which started on Friday 4th March 2022 at Lakka village in the outskirts of Freetown.
The exhibition was borne out of the ‘Generation Unlimited initiative’ by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Partners aimed at showcasing the impacts of various projects designed to improve opportunities for career development and sustainable livelihoods for young people between the ages of 10 and 24. Other dignitaries and partners were also in attendance to grace the occasion.
According to the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, the concept of Generation Unlimited is bringing together different people from all spheres of social life with different minds “to collaborate and think Sierra Leone first”, adding that the concept is a global initiative and Sierra Leone has never been there before.
The minister said that the role Sierra Leoneans had to play, after the partners’ effort, is the collaborative effort of the individual and the passion to succeed.
He said that the idea was to see how they could help Sierra Leoneans who have ideas without platforms to be able to showcase their knowledge and creativity nationally and globally. “Challenge yourself. Whatever you are doing, don’t limit yourself to Sierra Leone but rather compete at a global level”, he said.
He cited that he was aware that he had inherited a platform of innovation and urged parents that the toughness of the situation should not stop them from bringing their kids together to train them to be creative and curious and that they should advise them from the wrong paths.
In his statement, the representative of UNICEF, Suleiman Braimoh, started by clarifying the idea behind the concept of Generation Unlimited, saying that the emphasis has been on formal education and later work around the world. “We know that not all of us go through that channel,” he said, adding that the informal sector has been affected by the structures and gaps for youths who are not fortunate to go to school or drop out.
Braimoh said that Generation Unlimited is designed to enable youths to become “productive and positively engaged members of society."
According to him, through the initiative, a unique framework was developed for Government, UN Agencies, the business and private sectors, and Civil Society Organisations to work alongside children and young people and support the realization of their dreams, aspirations, and fulfilment of their needs and dreams.
He added: “The exhibition today has therefore been set up to demonstrate the range of projects from different stakeholders here in Sierra Leone and highlights the efforts to improve opportunities for employment and sustainable livelihoods for every young person in the country.”
He further stated: “Today we take note of the possibilities which are there to support the needs of young people, and again reflect on the extent to which this work is needed in the context of Sierra Leone.”
Talking about the situation of children and young people, Braiwoh concluded that many young people live in households that face multidimensional levels of poverty and deprivation, adding that more than sixty percent (60%) of youths aged 18 – 35 years are unemployed and living in “extreme poverty” while many more cannot access an education which will make them fit the new demands for digital skills in the labour market.
Speaking at the maiden event, the Director and Chief Operating Officer at Directorate of Science Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Michala Mackay, said she felt “very excited” and urged that the participation should be a landmark in the life of the participants.
Mackay expressed that she would have loved to get the opportunity to network as a youth and to learn entrepreneurship skills to understand market and business strategies and know-how innovation could make a “huge impact” in business ideas.
She called on the young people to be prepared to sit at the table if they should be involved in decision-making processes. “Now the way to go is you have to be at that table and you have to let us know what your needs are and what you actually require, to be able to achieve the desired goal,” she said.
The Deputy Director at the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Simeon Sandi, noted that exhibitions are enviable activities and are at the heart of every industry in society as they are expected to come and see innovative ideas which they can transform into business and productivity.
“We know that young people have ideas, and they are the ones responsible to provide the workforce in society. For this reason, they should be supported,” he said.
One of the Youth Nominees, Patrick Samuels, urged his fellow youths to take the opportunity and pleaded with authorities to provide support and the needed opportunity, adding that young people have the ideas if given the chance.
He said that every month ten million (10,000,000) youths are reaching work age, saying the priority of the world should be to empower by bringing the curriculum to exhibit.
Presentations on project and career development and sustainable livelihoods were made by representatives of the Digital Learning Hub at IPAM, Restless Development, AURORA Foundation, Youths in Car Wash, UN Women, and Youth in Fisheries, reflecting on the concept of innovation and creativity that have positively transformed their lives through the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
Copyright © Politico Online 07/03/22)
