At the organisation’s Global Operating Plan (GOP) focus meeting held over the weekend, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) has been commended greatly for their outstanding role in conflict resolution.
The 2008 medal award was presented by to the YMCA in Simoe Muskoka Canada.
In his statement while presenting the award, Tom Coon said that YMCA Sierra Leone has a good record for the work they have been doing and that they have seen vast improvements because the organisation has had a serious transformation over the past six years.
He echoed that one who is down is never afraid of falling but the moment you are up “you should always try to maintain that position or even go higher.”
Another presentation was made by the representative of Oak Vile in Canada depicting the activities of YMCA in that part of Canada.
In his statement, Simon Badiane of the African Alliance said that building a world of peace is one of the organisation’s aims and that is why they are happy for doing work in the slums.
Simon Badiane maintained that the GOP programme is not an easy take but they have decide to take the challenge and now is not the time to sit back and relax but rather time to work and keep up to the challenge that lies ahead.
Giving the country report YMCA National Secretary General Christian Kamara gave a retrospect about the organisation as one of the oldest youth serving agency founded in 1912 with a present membership of 1,000 (one thousand).
The National Secretary General stated further that the YMCA have made a lot of achievements of the past years and these include completion and officially opening of the Regional and the Central Branch building in Bo.
Also that they have bought another 11 acres of land which they can use to boost their present 21 acres for agriculture. Christian Kamara explained further that they have also implemented a project on disability as youth form part of the participation component. They have also collaborated with the Human Rights Commission in launching the first Human Right report.
Speaking about the challenges, Mr Kamara said that they have been greatly affected by the Global Financial Crisis and that there is no regular electricity supply and this affects them greatly because the generator they are using is not too good anymore. Added to that he said for the past two to three years staff have not been getting any increment in their salary and this is affecting them seriously.
The future plans for this year according to the Secretary include purchasing of land in the centre of the city and the construction of a five storey building for national council.
Earlier in his opening remarks the national Vice President Sahr Lebbie said that the introduction of human resources has help them to promote the organisation in this part of the country.
He stated that achievement has been made greatly especially in the area of human resources and asset acquisition and that though they have made a remarkable improvement much has to be done.
The programme continues with opening of a community centre at Kroo Bay today and at Dworzack on Tuesday.
By Betty Milton
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