Concern Worldwide ends 5th People’s Forum
Concern Worldwide, one of the leading Non Government Organizations operating in Tonkolili District, northern Sierra Leone, has concluded a grand session dubbed as 5th People’s Forum.
The forum which brought together a battery of eminent personalities including community members at the Valentino Hall in Mile 91, is part of the Building Resilience and Community Engagement (BRACE) project that is funded by the European Union – 2007 to 2010.
In her opening remarks, the chairperson for the occasion, Madam Fatmata Daramy Sesay, who also happens to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Tonkolili District Council (TDC), lauded Concern Worldwide for a job well done, describing its presence in the district as a blessing in disguise for the people of Tonkolili whom she said are in desperate need of development.
Speaking on the aims and objectives of the forum, the National Coordinator for Food, Income and Marketing (FIM) program of Concern Worldwide, Tayo D. Alabi, stated that the main thrust of the initiative is to strengthen and promote community participation in the local institutional structures, thereby fostering the efficiency of ward committees and ward committee meetings, and at the same time promoting grass roots democracy through encouraging community leaders to meet with members of their communities regularly.
According to Mr. Tayo D. Alabi, Concern Worldwide is currently implementing three major projects in the district, ranging from Education, Health and Agriculture. Mr. Alabi went on to state that the Concern Worldwide Food Facility Program that is funded by the EU, gears towards enhancing institutional capacity building initiatives at the local level.
Giving an update of the activities of Concern Worldwide, Mr. Alabi pointed out that courtesy of support from the EU and Irish Aid, they are presently implementing various projects in Kholifa Rowalla, Yoni and Kholifa Mabang chiefdoms within the district, adding that plans are underway to supply a total of 450 cattle to targeted beneficiaries in a bid to boost their income generation efforts and thereby improving their livelihood.
Mr. Alabi also noted that 450 community people have received training in animal husbandry. He also pointed out that Concern Worldwide has successfully distributed 29 metric tons of seedlings to 580 households, 32 metric tons of seedlings to 35 agricultural groups, and has also built six farmers’ school and trained 35 para-vetnary officials.
He pledged Concern Worldwide’s continued support to the people of Tonkolili, maintaining that in two months time, a five-year strategic plan will be developed to facilitate the expansion of operations to other localities within the Tonkolili District.
Buttressing, the Area Coordinator of Concern Worldwide, Patrick Barrasa, disclosed that plans have been put in place to build four commodities stores and train management committees with a view to enhance their managerial skills.
Also present at the forum was Honourable Mohamed Albert Tarawallie of Constituency 59 in Magburaka, who dilated on the role of parliamentarians in promoting community development.
The forum was climaxed by questions and answers.
By Ibrahim Pelus Kamara
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