It's so weird, these past couple of days the only thing that has been on my mind is Salone (ok...like that is different from any other day!). But no, these past days my thoughts have been quite different...I have this urge to actually go home and do something to contribute to what many are calling in Sierra Leone "the rebirth of a nation". I've always planned on going to Sierra Leone in the future but now those feelings and thoughts are weighing down hard on me. Weird...But, with those thoughts then come the other looming thoughts of what can I offer Salone with just a bachelors degree? Perhaps, I could do a year or so of service with my organization's branch chapters out there (there are three branches Makeni, Bo, and Freetown) but then I would have to worry about locating the funding for these events (which is not very easy) and on top of that there are still some things that I have to take care of in Maryland...so I guess, I will just have to wait and see where God leads me because whenever the time is right for Him, everything will work out smoothly on my end.
Oh and by the way, I am a member (former Maryland chapter president for two years) of Youth for Sierra Leone (YSLI). YSLI, is a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization that is devoted to empowering the youths of Sierra Leone through education. YSLI strongly believes that the future of Sierra Leone lies in the hands of its youth. The future of the country will be unpromising, if basic education is not provided for the youth. With the aim of ensuring a prosperous future for Sierra Leone, YSLI has initiated the following three projects: (1) Access to Primary Education for Children (2) Continuing Education for Adolescent Girls and Women (3) Health Services and Education.
YSLI has hosted many events with notable people taking part in them and we have participated in many fundraising activities...one of our more recent feats is the collection of 350 computers that we will be shipping to Sierra Leone next month, so that they can be used in various public schools across the country. Youth for Sierra Leone Improvement is just a promising organization and I thank God for blessing me enough to allow me to serve my nation in such a way. I have so much more to do for mama Salone but being in YSLI has definitely been a good foot in the door (I'm not sure if I said that right...lol).
Anyway, so yeah...those are some of the things that have been going through my mind recently...
One other thing that I have heard some people complaining about that really annoys me is how "the new" APC has not improved anything in the country since they have been in power...My first thought is "Hello!!!! News flash...they have only been in power for approximately 6 months, let us at least give them a chance before we start to criticize!"
*Sidenote*
Just in case you may not have known, runoff elections were held on September 8, 2007 in Sierra Leone between the former government Sierra Leone's People's Party, SLPP, (party leader: Solomon Berewa)and the All People's Congress (APC), in which APC came out victorious winning majority of the votes in the country. So, the new leader of the Republic of Sierra Leone is H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma.
Okay, now back to my rant...yes, they inherited a broken nation that was not only caused by SLPP, but also from the civil war and even the immense damage that the old APC did back when they were in power years ago. So, my whole issue is that it is going to take time to revive such a nation...we just have to be patient and pray that the ones who are in power now will remember all of the suffering that has been imposed on our people for so long.
By no means am I a party loyalist...I happen to be a Sierra Leonean people loyalist though and I love my country, my people, and all of the potential that is within the country just waiting to burst out. My heart aches for those innocent children who have known nothing but hardship all of their lives,who think that these are the cards that they have been dealt in life and that they should just wallow in their own misery. My heart aches for the child that feels like there is nothing in life worth living for and that they can never amount to anything. I want to help in restoring hope in the future generations of Sierra Leone and let them know there is a better tomorrow and that they don't have to become victims of their circumstances...ah life...God help me.
Until next time...I'm signing off and please, please, please...remember mama Salone in your prayers.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment