By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
Sierra Leone International Model United Nations (SIMUN) in partnership with the United States Embassy has on the 25th to the 28th held a four day conference at Fourah Bay College campus.
Marking its first National Youth Dialogue Forum, SIMUN invited 14 youths as delegates from each district to receive free training on the theme: “Strengthening Good Governance, Community and National Development through Youth Engagement”.
Ibrahim Bahme Sankoh, Executive Director of SIMUN noted that the best way to get the youth to participate in the global effort to establishing world peace is by training and providing them with the necessary skills required so that they can become more tolerant; perfect in developing cohesion; and effective and efficient leaders of national institutes.
“It is important to ensure the youth clearly understand the principles upon which the peace and advancement of a nation is propelled”, Sankoh added.
Throughout the first three days of the conference, the youths were fortunate to receive trainings and lectures from intellectuals in various fields of study on the principles that geared towards strengthening good governance.
Talking to A-Z, a delegate from one of the districts said the initiative was very impactful as they were able to receive trainings and lectures from intellectuals on various topics like; vanquishing the anxiety and dread of public speaking; civic education; gender stereotypes and sexism.
“All of these topics are very important as they have facilitated us with the ideas needed to strengthen good governance in our society and be agent of change,” he said.
Mohamed O. Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs admonished the youths to be the change they want to see and that they should not rely on politicians but work and improve on themselves.
Youth Minister emphasized that as youths they have a whole lot to play where he said if they failed to make use of their youthful age they would have themselves to blame saying “what is for us without us is against us.”
Abdul Kpaka, Executive Director of Centre For Research Peace and Youth Affairs as a guest speaker said if they must change this country as youths they must take responsibility and that being a youth is not about the age but ones participation towards youth affairs.
Abdul Kpaka said Sierra Leone as a country has nothing to show when it comes to good governance whiles saying that good governance is about structures but the structures and systems in Sierra Leone are not effective.
Director Sankoh concluded that the conference was not just to impact youths but also to enable them to reach out with the message of peace using both the traditional and social media platforms.