http://www.cocorioko.net/MondayApril92007p4.html
The Youth for SL Improvement (YSLI) Giving Birth to Hope
For approximately 3 to 4 hours on Saturday, March 31 2007, the
Maryland Chapter of the Youth for Sierra Leone Improvement (YSLI)
held their first fund-raising banquet entitled "FOOTSTEPS TO
ACHIEVEMENT" MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN EDUCATION AND DEMOCRATIC
AWARENESS. YSLI's banquet held in Silver Spring, MD was a thing to
write home about!
Included on the panel of speakers were many distinguished people from
within our community and beyond which included, Jon and Sarian Bouma,
SL's Ambassador to the U.N. H.E. Dr. and Mrs. Sylvester Ekundayo
Rowe, and Mr. Julius Coles of Africare. Honorary guest speakers were
the Director for National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Mr. Dave
Peterson, and National Democratic Institute's (NDI) Senior Program
officer for Sierra Leone, Steve Moody.
YSLI, a non-profit, non-partisan and a non-governmental organization
was established to improve the lives of the underprivileged youth in
Sierra Leone.
The host Dr. Sheku Kamara kicked off the event by calling us to
attention and introducing the prayer leaders (in Islam and
Christianity) by Mr. Bah and Mr. Joseph, respectively. Dr. Kamara
used the opportunity to continuously offer voter education whenever
he can inject its relevance. And did a good job overall. His co-
host, Mr. Ekbert Parker, who made the trip all the way from Houston,
TX is also a dynamic youth in his own right and was able to
complement Dr. Kamara in many ways
It was him that introduced a
wonderful young lady Zainab Sidique, as Vice-President of the
Maryland chapter. She gave a short talk and introduced her President
and good friend, Kadija Jalloh. Kadija gave a great speech and her
very eloquent and confident delivery was rewarded with an ovation
from the captive audience. Being privy to some of Kadija's earlier
speeches, I could not help but notice how she has grown and matured
in her role as President of the YSLI Maryland Chapter.
Following that was a motivational or inspirational speech (as it was
titled) by no other than our own Auntie Sarian Bouma. Her speech
included topics about noted world leaders who had to overcome
adversity early in their lives before becoming world-impacting
notables. Including herself who worked through adversity into
becoming self-sustainable and it is all captured in her "Welfare to
Millionaire" book, which was free for that night except that the
signature was worth $20!
The Keynote speaker was no other than Ambassador Rowe who talked
about a lot of Sierra Leonean issues and what the country needs. He
encouraged the youth to continue their impressive work towards Sierra
Leone's development and to focus on doing one or two things at a time
before moving on to others. But his speech was drowned by his
dancing. And I mean `debul' dancing not the western kind. When they
gave him the whisk (the hoss tail) he used it to "sheeray" to the
delight and applaud from the crowd. Just like we used to do it back
home and you could tell say bra nah huntin man! Very impressive
stuff
Other speakers included Mr. Julius Coles of Africare; the PMDC's
Dauda Tombo Bangura who gave a somber speech and commented that they
have been likened to a youth party, for obvious reasons; and Donald
George of AMISTAD, who gave a talk on the Atlantic Freedom Tour -
Amistad's visit to SL. Also present was the National Chairman of the
APC who showed up late but better late than never. And they were
one up on the SLPP who were expected but turned out to be a no-call-
no-show, according to inside sources.
The final speech was from the founder and visionary of YSLI, our own
Dr. Michel Sho-Sawyer. But before he arrived there was an
outstanding performance by the Daddy Rahmanu dancing team. Amidst a
standing ovation, bongo man, Michel Sho-Sawyer grabbed the podium and
enthralled us in a moving speech. Highlights of his talk included
the commentary that he would like to inform a friend who likes to use
the phrase "pregnant with hope" the assurance that "today, that child
has been born" referring to the YSLI team. Topping that was when he
asked all of the YSLI members present, to come in front of the room
and asked the audience if they would let such committed young people,
fail in their quest to revitalize Sierra Leone? It was a moving
moment as we looked around at each other as members of the audience.
And it is applicable to those of us who were not there also: Would
we let the upswing momentum the Youth organizations are gaining go to
waste because we fail to complement their efforts as adults and
elders of Sierra Leonean communities? A valid question!
After that certificates of appreciation were granted to people who
the YSLI think have been instrumental in some way to their
organization in preparing, supporting and mentoring them from time to
time. Amidst such recipients were the President and Vice-President
of the Maryland Chapter, Kadija and Zainab, our own Salone Discussion
forumites, Messrs. John Musa, Karamoh Kabbah and Amadu Massally. The
most worthy of such awards was the Martin Luther King Award a
plaque to Julius E. Coles, President of Africare, whose organization
have been operating in Sierra Leone for a couple of decades now.
The event was a successful one and considering the $100 the Sierra
Leone Network (SLN) members each paid (Gail Carew-Edwards, Adrian
Labor, Mohamed Bah, Amara Kuyateh and Amadu Massally) we were
satisfied with the program and the objective. Although we could have
used some more of the very tasty Cassava leaves that was served as an
entrée option (actually using inside connections, we were able to get
a little bit more which was shared by a few of the SLN members).
On a serious note and in conclusion we are confident that Sierra
Leone will reach its potential with this new breed of Sierra Leoneans
that the deplorable conditions (over 30 years worth) in the country
has created. But we (S/Leoneans) need to make a conscious effort to
support them into success.
"
wi di youth dem say "wan word"
Oonah gi chance to di yung blood
Wi sef wan cam on bord
Wit di new milinyum method
Wae go push di kontri forwod
No moh goyin bakwod
Noh to lek da kolonyal method
Fo tif en sen abrod..."
~ Emmerson Amidu Bockarie
By Amadu Jepeh Massally