Three fishing communities in Lakka have been assisted by Family Home Movement (FHM) through its Association for Volunteer Services International (AVSI) with three 10meter Ghana plank Boats.
Explaining the processes of the project during the handing over of the boats to the fishermen recently, the AVIS, Project Manager in Sierra Leone, Mamoud Tarawallie said it was in April 2007 when a concept note was sent to the World Bank for approval to assist in youth development and technical training.
He stated that through the World Bank, funding was secured for which the Lakka community was considered; and that the three boats, each contained a sea light, forty five live jackets and forty horse power engine.
The Project Manager also explained that AVIS had provided technical training to 150 young people in Rokel in carpentry, welding and brick laying and also the training of 60 young disabled at SAYENU in other related skills. He therefore urged the beneficiaries to utilize the boats for the intending purpose.
The Executive Director of FHM Ernest Sesay, said his organization had Lakka in mind and that it was the second time the fishing community is receiving boats from them. He told the fishing community that they were giving dignity to the community to be self reliant and urged them to take good care of the boats. The AVIS Country Representative, Alessandro Galimberti said their target is to help the young fishermen, but however stressed that their dreams of acquiring much would only be successful if the youths utilize the boats properly. The Italian Cooperation Representative, Pier Carlo Vicentini intimated that the Italian Government was close to the people of Sierra Leone.
Commissioning the boats, A.O Bangura, Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Marine Resources admonished the fishers to adhere to the rules of fishing and safety in doing it.
By Ishmael Bayoh
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