By Mamoud Balla Kamara

Leaving Sinkunia was hard but necessary to ensure I had a future, one that would allow me to learn, experience, and eventually be able to stand for the change I want to see. Assimilating into another culture was seemingly difficult throughout my academic era, moving from my village to another district seeking education.

 My four years at Njala University as the only and first person from my village motivated me not to relent but rather to set the stage for others because I knew my community needs more of my type who would stand for them and tear up the darkness.

I used to isolate myself flickered my mind on my village and cried bitterly, nothing has been going on well for my people, nobody seems to care, those who are attempting to help out are not getting the real solutions, poor people are still dying in silence, youth are stuck in a constant hard situation, communities are getting emptied with able men risking their lives in the sea seeking for a better life, most of them have lost their lives in the process. Poverty alleviation, Gender-Based Violence, Feminism, women, youth and children’s empowerment, climate change, health and all that encompass sustainable development is our mission. It’s a battle I alone cannot stand, it’s a battle of the youth with an empowered mindset ready to build sustainable communities, and this is what we stand for to empower one another, give a shoulder to each other so we can explore opportunities within our communities, collectively breaking the silence, making the world a better place for us all.

 We stood up with YoMSuD-SL not because we wanted to be part of forming an NGO but because we were victims! We are victims! In real rural society situations and we know the problems, we have been touched by most of those hard situations rural communities faced. I believed if we come together with resources we shall achieve our goal. Youth needs sustainable Hope. Be part of the team to see the change you want to see. Thank You for your support.