As education remains one of the key factors to address issues that lead to violence, a non-profit organisation, Stand up Sierra Leone, that is poised to champion the cause of rampant political violence in the country has braced itself to put up two million children into public schools.
The Executive Director of Stand up Sierra Leone Mohamed Kasim-Carew was addressing a well-attended youth jamboree at the launch of the organisation at Fourah Bay Field past weekend where he mentioned that youths, but especially children in Sierra Leone need education and enlightenment so that they would avert the cause of violence.
Mr. Kasim Carew emphasized that youths of this nation should not allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetrate violence.
He re-echoed that politicians have over the years contributed tremendously to the degeneration of the minds of the youth through incitements, drug abuse and using money and preaching hate as a wedge to divide the nation.
The Director maintained that since youth and children are future leaders of this nation, measures should be put in place to enable the rehabilitation of their minds so that they would contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country.
He said that his plan to educate two million less privileged children in the country is borne out of his desire to make meaningful contribution through education and preaching non violence in larger and sub-communities around the country for the purpose of consolidating the hard-won peace in the country.
Kasim was able to convince the gathering that literally there is no difference between the political parties especially the foremost two. He said therefore, there is no need “for us to discriminate against each other on political grounds. We are all Sierra Leoneans, and if Sierra Leone is to develop today, we all stand to benefit at the same time irrespective of whether you are APC, SLPP, PMDC, NDA or UDM.”
Making a comment on non-violence also was the AIG Freetown-east Mustapha Kamara who asserted that unlawful force to achieve anything will lead to violence. He assured the gathering that the police in particular are more than prepared to take giant steps towards enhancing violence-free elections.
The AIG maintained that the law is no respecter of anyone and whoever is found wanting would face the full penalty. He said people should have confidence in the police as protector of lives and property and perform their part of the obligation by being law abiding and peaceful citizens.
The former Vice Chancellor of Njala University Prof. Yekini Alghali chaired the occasion and gave brief exhortations on the need to be law abiding and tolerable in a democratic dispensation.
He notified that most primaries among classifications that would ensure peace, equality and non violence are free and fair elections, reliable and fair justice system, change of attitude and respect for one another.
Prof. Alghali said that the recent political violence at Fourah Bay Community clearly epitomized lawlessness and unpatriotic behavior, and a determined effort by certain individuals to put the country in abysmal darkness and savagery.
The former university principal, himself being a member of the Fourah Bay Community, encouraged, in particular, inhabitants of the Community to dissociate from violence, urging them further to denounce any of its forms in order to maintain the community’s reputation and development.
Prior to the launch of the organisation by a representative of the Chief Imam of Jamatul Baitullah Alhaji Sanusi Tejan, Director Kasim-Carew told youths and all gathered to disseminate the language of non violence across the nation as they get prepared to take a tour around the country to do the same.
By Poindexter Sama
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