Sombre and gloom were marked on the faces of many Sierra Leoneans in the United States as the news of the double calamity in their homeland.
Can’t be true, many of them said as they reached for land phones to check the accuracy of the news.
But alas, the news was as accurate as its words and days of mourning began and spread throughout the various states Sierra Leoneans are residing.
Those living in the Washington axis hurried to the Embassy to sign the book of condolence, mingling with high ranking diplomats from the Ivory Coast, Benin, Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya and others while US government officials as well as ambassadors from Western countries took turns to convey messages of regret.
Many functions by organisations run by Sierra Leoneans were abruptly postponed while emergency meetings as to check on food relief and funding were held.
Churches led by Sierra Leoneans held marathon memorial services and prayed for God’s divine intervention.
It was all a period of prolong grief.
They say when you are trying to serve young people, it is necessary to listen to them and that’s about summed it up that the young people must be part of the equation.
The nog, US-Africa 2017 Town Halls-Sierra Leone team is creating footsteps others can proudly follow, senior staffers told me the other day as they revealed plans to collaborate with folks back home.
In the meantime, the group has sent a letter to US President Donald Trump urging him to “Restore the United States Information Service (USIS) library as digital online global platform which was closed in 1999 in Freetown as well as other African cities.”
Taking the lead, the group said, “restoring the library would mean that millions of African youths 11 to 18 years can have access to the educational resources in the system and will be an effective vehicle to expand its cultural and public diplomacy.”
Continuing the plea, the nog noted that “for the past two years, US-Africa has been educating young girls and boys to have a working knowledge of economics, entrepreneurship, business concepts, public finance and knowledge of food crop farming and health fitness education.”
“We have been selecting resources from the internet to design our presentation materials.
“We need access to books and other reading materials to make the youths acquisition of the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities better and effective.
“The youths of Africa now have access to cell phones and the internet and with the existence of USIS, the skills development of these jobless young people would be increased and they will become productive citizens instead of going into crimes and terrorism.”
“It is not just in Sierra Leone the library is needed online
But the majority of youths in Africa Are dying for knowledge of economic freedom, business entrepreneurship and necessary resources to acquire and develop personal skills to become productive citizens of Africa.”
Surely, a worthwhile request and veteran journalists in Sierra Leone would recall the role played by USIS in the development of the media in those days.
Wednesday August 23, 2017.
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