October 13, 2020 (232News)
FREETOWN – Sierra Leone Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dansama-Kamara on behalf of the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio has Commissioned a skills training center for teenage mothers and adolescents with disability for sustainable development and empowerment for young people in the Western Area Rural District.
The center which was commissioning past Thursday at Kabila Drive, Morabi Waterloo was done by Preach Peace Organization (PPO) in collaboration with Ministry of Social Welfare.
In her keynote speech, Madam Baindu Dansama-Kamara described Waterloo as a beautiful place but parents should look after their children and the children too should have a kind heart for their parents.
She encouraged the first set of trainers to take advantage of the program and to raise the bar high because disability is not inability.
She pointed out that if they took the training serious, they would not go to the streets to beg.
“Government has not forgotten you. You are at the heart of everything we are doing as a government”
The minister commended the CEO of PPO Abu Bakarr Sesay for drawing her attention to the organization activity and promised continuity in their support drive for the organization as long as they have government support.
The minster disclosed that for the first time Sierra Leone has presented her report to the United Nations on disability because they don’t want to be left behind as a nation.
She saw the need for private sector to compliment government effort as what they want to see these days.
CEO of PPO Abu Bakarr Sesay, pointed out that PPO is against discrimination and they will continue to demonstrate that.
He said they recently supported disables with different items because they don’t want them to go back to the streets begging or engaging in commercial sex work.
According to the CEO, other parts of the Western Rural District are yearning for such program.
He disclosed that over 30 thousand residents are in Morabi community which comprises 19 zones but the community lacks health center and most of the schools are privately owned.
Chairperson for the Disable Women Association, Alice Kamara described PPO as an organization that has done a lot for them.
She said after the first set would have graduated, they will be able to stand and look after themselves. She described their discrimination as double one.
“If the able person is struggling what about us that are not able, hold this training with two hands”
Assistant Board Chair Person, Mariatu Esther Tamba, encouraged the beneficiary not to limit themselves as when they learn they empower themselves and urged them to put more effort in learning something worthwhile.
60 teenage mothers and adolescents with disability will be the first set to be trained and they will focus on Soap Making and Hair Dressing.
The Minister of Social Welfare also donated wheel chair to Mariatu Sesay a disabled that shared a touching story of how she was dumped few days after her birth by her late mother describing her as a devil.
Statements were also made by the Head man and deputy of Devil Hole Community, Vice Chair, Local Police Partnership Board, and One Family People among others.
