BY: MOHAMED SAHR
Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA), with funding support from Taksvarkki through the project titled “Strengthening Youth and Youth Groups to take Leadership Roles in Decision-Making Processes at Community and District Levels,” recently concluded a two-day Livelihood Engagement on Entrepreneurship and Growth for Disabled Youth and Disabled Organizations.
The training took place in Bo and Port Loko districts, respectively, targeting 50 young people living with disabilities selected from communities and their organizations in those districts.
Abdul Karim Samura, the lead facilitator, emphasized that the training aimed to assist participants, especially young people with disabilities, in generating, evaluating, and selecting business ideas for self-reliance. Key topics covered included understanding basic concepts of entrepreneurship, recognizing entrepreneurs as job creators rather than job seekers, understanding the benefits and importance of entrepreneurship, and embracing risk-taking in entrepreneurial endeavors.
Solomon Mamie, a participant from Bo, expressed gratitude for the timely and helpful training. He noted that the knowledge gained would empower them, as individuals with disabilities, to shift away from street begging, which had been their primary means of subsistence. Mamie highlighted the potential for disabled individuals to explore business opportunities within their community, particularly in Gerihun, a bustling business hub attracting traders and buyers from across the district.
John Conteh, a disabled participant from Port Loko, echoed Mamie’s sentiments, describing the training as an eye-opener for himself and his peers. He mentioned that individuals with skills in tailoring, hairdressing, and barbering now saw the opportunity to provide services within their communities, thus embarking on entrepreneurship for sustainable livelihoods.
Participants pledged to leverage the knowledge gained during the training to educate and empower their disabled peers. They committed to discouraging street begging and promoting dignity by encouraging fellow disabled individuals to utilize their skills and engage in entrepreneurial activities to support themselves and their families.
