April 26, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
In his victory message after the United States elections, President Barrack Obama remarked that “Change” can’t happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.”
Youth development issues continue to be one of the most significant and pressing issues of our era. Among the many issues that confront the youth of today are those such as high risk of HIV/AIDS, unemployment and underemployment, lack of education and skills, social exclusion, and struggle for identity.
The youth programs that will benefit young cover a wide range of issues relevant to youth of today, including: education; employment; hunger and poverty; health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure time activities, globalization, information and communication technologies, HIV/AIDS, youth and conflict, and intergenerational relations.
As young people form a major proportion of the population in Sierra Leone, this has major implications for policy formulation, resource allocation and the development of youth programs. Unfortunately, more often than not in the development arena, young people are perceived as a ‘problem in development’, rather than a ‘resource for development’ that can act as catalysts for the development of this country. Thankfully, despite this prevailing attitude in some spheres, the positive contributions of some young people continue to illustrate the fact that if young people are given the required platform and resources they can ‘’be the change’’ that we want to see in Sierra Leone.
Nevertheless, there are positive manifestations in the New Direction government. It is like there was no mistake made by president Bio in appointing the erudite young ministers in key appointments. Messrs Bangura as minister of youth, Francis Ben Kaifala, head of the Anti-Corruption Commission; David Moinina Sengeh, a technological whiz kid from MIT and Harvard university, he has served as the country’s chief innovation officer and he is the current minister of Basic education; and Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, Presidential Spokesperson and Press Secretary, Ibrahim Sannoh the Executive Director Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority as they have make young people proud in this country. I believe young people have starting seeing the change they want in Sierra Leone.
The National Youth Service (NYS) Scheme, was established in 2016 to raise a class of patriotic, moral, physical and psychosocial competence in graduate youths to undertake a year of compulsory national volunteer services in communities and institutions. The National Youth Service Scheme aims at bridging the education to work gap and regional and tribal lines. The National Youth Service started officially in February 2016 and in December 2016 it got the Presidential Assent so it became a law. But it real operations in terms of recruiting graduates started in September 2018
The differences between National Youth Services and any other internship organization or program is the fact that they don’t just deploy graduates to institutions. Rather they will go for 21 days camp where they will re-orientate them. The NYS make them regimental which means selflessness, volunteerism, nationalism, national cohesion, patriotism etc.
In the 21 days, they will teach graduates on work ethics, good motivational speakers come in and inspire them with their stories so that they can know that it is not just rosary as you can think it or seeing people. At NYS people go there to share their success stories where they have come from and where they are now. The first batch was 200 youth service corps, the second batch was 500 and this third batch for 2021 is 1,000. I am encourages young people to be steadfast and focus and that the Ministry of Youth Affairs will continue to ensure that all districts and chiefdoms are represented in their programming so that young people can contribute to national development.
Change is a basic law of nature and naturally part of human nature. Admissibly, no society remains completely static. This is a universal reality in all human societies. Be primitive or civilized, developed or underdeveloped, the basic fact remains that societies and constant flux of transformation.
The word makeover may denote different things and subjectively perceived by many people, systems, societies, etc. However, makeover could broadly mean any variations, modifications and or patterns observed over some basic structure of society. The nature, speed and extent of change may differ from society to society. Some change occurs rapidly, others change slowly.
Individuals may strive for stability, governments may create the illusion of permanence, the quest for certainty may continue unabated, yet the fact remains that society is an ever-changing phenomenon, growing, decaying, renewing and readapting itself to changing conditions and undergoing vast modifications in the course of time.
Change could be evolutionary or revolutionary, positive or negative, inclusive or discriminatory. Regardless of its shape or form, change does not happen by chance. There are many actors involved in social change process, including institutions, children, adults, parents, grandparents etc. Their perceptions, values, knowledge, attitudes, behavior and symbiotic interactions are fundamental; for any change to occur.
A good citizen and a progressive society do nt just happen. What is inescapable is that the journey of transformation is a very complex one. An individual is not simple transported from a life before to the after, rather, the journey involves a great deal of hard work, expertise, determination and perseverance.
If you take on the logic of makeover cultures emphasizes continual performance of thinking, becoming, improving, growing and developing them. All of these are more valued than achieving a point of finality, faultlessness or complete melanoma, which is impossible in any society inhabited by human species. Put differently, by patient and desire for good change! Evolve for yourself values, principles, structures and policies which conform to the general good of mankind.
To do achieve this, the makeover process of young people must start at our different homes. Young people must first redefine their selfhood, their world view, human values and set their priorities right. There is no hurry in life. Be absolutely patient about this. Since today’s child, ultimately becomes tomorrow’s adult, parents must guide them understand, have knowledge and actively participate in social life, which is fundamental for attaining a reformed and human-centered society based on the common good.
As journalists, parents, lawyers, teachers, parents, guardians and leaders, the small things we do to make our own children and youth become more responsible and have bigger impacts than we might think. As Sierra Leoneans we all have something valuable to contribute towards the common good for all. We just have to figure out what it is and make it happen. It’s important to remember we don’t have to donate all of our time, money and energy to consider ourselves good citizens.
As an individual, the way you handle your civic duties contributes to the growth or decay of your part of the world. A country or a community is like a big family-inevitably imperfect, but as good as the people who make it up. The integrity of our country is built by the hands of its citizens. That don’t mean that if you can’t not make Sierra Leone perfect doesn’t mean you are exempt from responsibility. If people of character fail to instruct our young people and positively shape their lives, others with more selfish designs and irresponsible intensions will rush in to fill the void.