Themed, “Youth Engagement for Global Action”, the Centre for the Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA) and partners yesterday, Wednesday 12th August 2020, marked Youth Day with young people from all walks of life. “As if much has not been done to empower young people across Sierra Leone, there is still a huge gap of commitment from what has been achieved to meet the needs of young people to have the space in society,” Abigail Stevens noted. The CCYA Executive Director said the centre in collaboration with Action Aid, the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone and other partners over the years, has held conferences and meetings for young people including civil society groups across the country on various programs aimed at them realising their full potential and making the effort to be trained in diverse skills to make them relevant and self-reliant.
But it seems previous administrations did not get it right addressing young people’s issues, as the last conducted population census revealed that 42% of the country’s population are young people between 15-35 who find themselves either in the formal or non-formal education sector. Madam Stevens noted that the world has changed, therefore tertiary education modules should be reviewed to match present day job market trends, and those who find themselves in the non-formal sector after training should be brought together to work instead of allowing them to go solo. She added that investment after acquiring knowledge and skills would produce better results for the benefit of all.
Speaker after speaker expressed similar sentiments, calling for more commitment and the creation of spaces for young people by government and partners. From Pultney Street, downtown Freetown, to Swizzy along Lightfoot-Boston Street, young people selling android phones and other electronics products expressed dissatisfaction that Sierra Leone youths cannot compete with their counterparts in developed countries.
They said expectations were high with the establishment of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation to create the space for young people to be trained on how to be more creative and produce electronic products that would reduce the high import cost of electronics and digital techs that have no spares and cannot be fixed in country. Rahul Kassim, in his early 40s, who sells and repairs android phones at Swizzy, said he never had the opportunity to study or be trained in electronics.
“I used my God given talent to explore on broken down phones and today people can testify that there are few android phones that I cannot handle, and it has changed my life from what it used to be.” National Youth Commissioner Ngolo Katta, who is also a youth activist, was questioned on space and commitment to change the narrative.
“While there are many types of spaces, safe spaces ensure the dignity and safety of young people. Civic spaces enable youths to engage in governance issues, while public spaces afford youth the opportunity to participate in sports and other social activities in the community.” Katta added that digital spaces help the youth to virtually interact with people across borders, and well planned physical spaces can help accommodate the needs of diverse youths, especially those vulnerable to marginalisation or violence.
“A lot has been done but the challenge is huge in addressing young people’s issues and this is why the Youth Ministry together with the Youth Commission is working hard to close the gap.” He said outside of government he used to see young people’s issues with a different lens, but confirmed that it is not an overnight rescue activity. The vision of the Youth Commission is to see youth situated at the centre of the country’s transformation with developed potential and creativity in both the formal and informal sectors.
Commissioner Katta furthered that key priorities will include youth skills for development and employment, which includes vocational training for employment in the job market, apprenticeship and internship schemes, adding that presently the commission is operating a number of programs for young people including agriculture and aquaculture as a means of sustainability and employability of young people. Another beneficiary of NAYCOM’s UNDP supported graduate student internship program, Martha Kamara, explained that after reading financial services and was still jobless after the internship, she decided to engage in creative arts and finger foods production as a source of livelihood. AC/13/08/2020
By Ade Campbell