By: Audrey Raymonda John
At a colourful ceremony held on the 25th of May 2023, back of Stadium car wash, Brookfields, Freetown, car washers from all over the country including Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Port Loko, Western Area, have formed a Union call, Car Wash Union SL to thanked President Bio for creating job opportunities for them through car washing.
In his statement, owner of Luminate Car Wash situated at Hill Station, Freetown, Henry Tamba Bongay said when he returned from London he opened a car wash and he has trained so many youths and now most of them are now realizing something.
He further that the Deputy Minister of Youths Affairs Luseni Kallon is the pioneer of the car wash and President Bio has empowered most youths by implementing the car wash and they have benefited a lot.
According to the chairman of Progressive Youth Car Wash Ibrahim B. Sannoh said they are now engaged in a job (car wash) as they are not stealing, joining cliques’ gangs or in any form of violence.
He further that through the Youth Affairs Ministry, President Bio must be thanked as they are grateful to the SLPP government.
Today they are proud to be a car washer, they were ashamed because there were no benefits.
And now they are reaping good fruits as most of them are now in university, and some are now living in nice houses as they are paying rent.
Before it was not so as most of them were sleeping in the streets, engaged in bad havoc.
Chairlady FBC car wash Yeali Bangura thanked President Bio for them especially the Youths as they are now getting their living.
As a woman, it is not easy but she endured and now most of her fellow women are jealous of her.
Director of the Car Washers Union, Victor K Muana said he is monitoring the car washers all over the country to see that they are using the money for themselves and without bullying any of its members.
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Luseni Kallon thanked the youths for taking care of the different car wash.
He said they have constructed 36 car wash all over the country and Western Area has 14.
Luseni Kallon further that the government of President Bio also create a fishing project for the youths which they are taking care of their livelihood.
He talked about the Hunan Capital Development as President Bio is thinking about the youths in Agriculture.
As young people, they are thanking the President for his initiative and they will vote for him on June 24 to continue for him to do more.
The different car wash chairmen in one voice disclosed that the money they are collecting is not going to the government but to them.
They will use the money to take care of themselves, especially in empowering those that are willing to study, learn different skills and getting themselves a good house to rent.