By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
By means of engaging and fostering intergenerational dialogue between youths and the aged for lasting peace and mindsets transformation of young people in the country, Community Organization for Peoples Empowerment (COPE) with funding from partners through Youth Dream Center Sierra Leone (YDC-SL) has on Saturday, September 5, officially handed over a newly built Youth Safe-Space center to the New London community in Makeni, Bombali District.
According to COPE National Coordinator, Alphanzo Stephen Kamara, the decision to construct the Youth Safe Space Center for the community is in response to the survey they conducted in 2019 which results revealed the need for such project.
“57% of the respondents, mainly Youths said that they were not actively involved in decision making processes by elders, while 78% said the community is very hostile and 65% noted that there is no center for them to meet and take actions which is why they normally converge at hideouts.” He confirmed.
Paul Kargbo, the National Coordinator of YDC and Isatu Mansaray, the YDC Program Manager commended the residents of Makeni New London community and COPE for haven worked together to reaching this far.
They also promised to continue to strengthened their ties with the community and COPE to transforming the lives of youths in that part of the country, the reason they are anticipating to see Youths of the community begin to use the center for development dialogues among other lives changing activities in the nearest future.
The handing over ceremony was chaired by popular Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Joseph Joe Turay. In his remarks thanked COPE and partners for facilitating the construction of such a center which he said will provide a number of benefits to the community.
Going further Mr. Turay, urged the youths and stakeholders of New London Community to take good care of the center before opening the flood gate for donations as he took responsibility to provide a pole, cables, switch and other electrical materials for the electrification of the center by the end of the year.
The Bombali District Council deputy Chairperson, John Yamba Kanu also pledged five bags of cements for the construction of a toilet facility for the center while both the Youth Leaders and the Elders Councils of the community and its surrounding pledged their fullest support for the proper use of the Youth Safe Space Center.
The occasion which attracted other dignitaries including the ward councilor, Dennis Sesay and other key stakeholders was climaxed by singing and clapping.
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