Sierra Leone stands the risk of losing their educated generation which could be
detrimental to a country on the crest of infrastructural development & change.
generous amount of natural
resources, fertile uncultivated
land, and an abundance of
talented and educated young
people who with the support
have the ability to turn this
country around.
One wonders why in a country where they are educating future engineers are they not
able to harness this talent.
We can hear the unison
laughter of the children walled
up behind the Ayoub
International School down the
road.
It is one of the most
impressive school buildings in
Freetown.
Over our balcony you can see the children of the Lebanese, the expats, and the upper
crust society of Sierra Leone spinning around in blue uniforms.
Upon entering university, they will be
shipped abroad to countries like Europe
and America to receive "a proper"
education," that will not limit them to the
confines or conditions of their current
country.
Exhausted children return indoors to air-conditioned facilities and resume their lessons,
while just outside the school lingers the unskilled undereducated lost generation of
Salone.
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The typical Sierra Leonean primary school is a stark contrast to Ayoub's towering structure.
Children walk dusty roads in tattered uniforms to dilapidated buildings up to six days a week.
children attend school during one of two
shifts. School days are divided into two
shifts (e.g. 8-1 and 2-7) so that every
child may receive an education.
More than 45% of the population is under the age of thirty.
This means that more than 60% of the population lived through all or some parts of the 10 year long civil war in Sierra Leone that ended in 2002.
These are the ones that should be appealing for socio-economic change.
Many NGO's like World Baptist Alliance aim their efforts on educating and organizing grass roots movements with "Youth groups."
But doesn't one officially fall out of that category around 22 years of age?
So what is there for young adults outside of this age range whom have neither skills nor education?
healthy young men &
women from working farms
and they instead sell their fares
in town roadside.
Others have been fortunate to find service industry related jobs, however there aren't nearly enough hotels and restaurants to employ everyone.
Degree holding graduates want more than blue collar jobs. Suddenly I hear the sentiment of my Fourah Bay friend resonating in my head.
"What is here for us?"
Abu, a native to Sierra Leone and a U.N. official explains to me that the backbone of this country should have been agriculture.
Sierra Leone has two main seasons; the
rainy season and Harmatten the dry season. Both are ideal for lucrative cash crops.
“However agriculture is not prioritized,
the tools used are rudimentary and most
of the educated population thinks that it is
better to work “White Collar” jobs.”
Commissioned "Think tanks" where college grads collaborate on innovative ideas about how to tackle issues such as modernizing techniques for agricultural development
would be beneficial here.
creating and maintaining a profitable
& sustainable environment than
simply plowing plots of land is key.
Also, attention should be given to how
critical the combination of local and
learned knowledge is in the structural development of said goals.
It seems that the people have come to
terms with the state of their country’s
evolving socio-economic condition.
They press through life in respect of their
current circumstances.
With the emergence of a new
government, new expectations and new promises to fulfill, perhaps Saloneans do
anticipate the strengthening of their country and the possibilities the future holds.
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