Leading Youth group to be accredited youth umbrella organisation

Young Leaders-Sierra Leone (YLSL) is to be accredited by the Sierra Leone High Commission as the official youth umbrella to formally coordinate the activities of Sierra Leonean youth groups in England.

This indication was made by Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the UK Hon Edward Turay in a meeting with YLSL Wednesday 4 August 2010.

Hon Turay, who said that Sierra Leone’s” government is very serious about young people,” said that YLSL will be given an “official recognition as the youth umbrella in England.”

This accreditation will boost YLSL’s efforts in trying to bring Sierra Leonean youth groups together in order to help with the development process in their country.

President of YLSL Unisa Dizo-Conteh said “this is a significant move and we are very much looking forward to intensifying our collective working relationship with youth organisations and other stakeholders to make a bigger development impact in Sierra Leone.”

It will be the first time for a Sierra Leonean youth group in the UK to be recognised officially as the main body to harmonise activities of Sierra Leonean youth groups in England.

YLSL is believed to be the first youth organisation to host a series of youth empowerment conferences, which brought Sierra Leone young people from all walks of life together to engage in pertinent discussions geared toward youth playing an active role in the country’s development.

The first Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Conference was held in the US in 2007, while the UK had its first test of this conference the following year. In Sierra Leone, YLSL has hosted a series of such conferences involving numerous youth groups, government officials and other stakeholders.

Amongst its accolades and recognitions, the organisation received an award last year for “outstanding contribution to youth development” at the Sierra Leone Excellence Awards held by African Children and Youth Centre in England.

“A number of youth groups are involved in various activities to make a difference back home, but we could make much more difference to the lives of many if we worked collectively,” Dizo said.

Many believe YLSL has the expertise to reach out to the many youth groups in Sierra Leona and in the Diaspora and because of the organisation’s significant history in promoting collaboration and practically involving in collaborative ventures, they believe it can deliver great results.

Mrs Bangalie, the High Commission’s head of Chancery, who was also present at the meeting, said that “young people have a lot of great ideas” and she is counting on YLSL’s support especially in the country’s 50^th independence celebration mapped for 2011.

An official invitation to participate in the activities of the 50^th Independence Day Celebrations in April 2011 has been extended to YLSL by the High Commission.

YLSL

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