By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a bid to make Sierra Leone a global market and for young people to acquire entrepreneurship skills and become self-reliant in society, the Daughters of Sierra Leone (DOSL), a women empowerment organization based in the United States of America has on Tuesday 18th May 2021concluded a two days vocational empowerment training for young people on the Theme: Monetizing Your Knowledge Through Online Courses at the New Life Ministries International Miracle City on Ross Road in Freetown.
Speaking during the event, founder of Daughters of Sierra Leone (DOSL), Rita Felleh Arah, revealed that the two days vocational empowerment training is geared towards making Sierra Leone a global market and for young people to acquire entrepreneurial skills and become self-reliant in society.
She reiterated that the knowledge that will be acquired by the participants, especially women, will enable them create positive impact in their immediate communities.
Rita Felleh Arah stated that the organization is aimed at promoting the development of Sierra Leone and other African countries and to empower women with the tools they need to be socially conscious.
In that regard she further encouraged women and young people to take advantage of the training as it will help them to acquire entrepreneurial skills and become self-reliant in society.
The Founder also disclosed that the second session of the training will be held at the Milton Margai College of Science & Technology from the 20th-21st May, 2021 with seasoned facilitators drawn locally and internationally to impart knowledge in participants at various courses.
On her part, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, on behalf of the President and the people of Sierra Leone congratulated the Daughters of Sierra Leone in undertaking
such a laudable project in Sierra Leone which she described as an excellent hallmark of what a true patriotic Sierra Leonean is.
“You have not come back only to criticize and focus on yourself, you have not come back to always destroy the image of the country using online digital technology particularly social media, you have not come back to look at your fellow compatriots and leave them in poverty, you are not here because you have a stake in the politics of Sierra Leone, or engaging in the SLPP- APC debates because you are a Sierra Leonean,” she maintained
The Minister added that this decision sits at the heart of Sierra Leone]s development as they are in a country where over 50% of the youth population can survive through the creative and performing arts if the right skills are harnessed and resources mobilized and that this industry is purely private sector driven but with a country that has no appetite for private sector development in the country.
She noted that the creative industries sector
accounts for 7% of the world’s GDP, growing at an annual rate of 8.7%.
More so, the majority of cultural goods are exported by developed nations, with developing countries accounting solely for 1% of total exports despite their rich cultural heritage and abundance of talent, adding that the development of the creative industries sector is not only an engine to increase the shares of developing countries in world trade, but can also directly benefit poor communities by generating income, creating jobs and empowering artists and people.
Dr. Memunatu Pratt pointed out that in Sierra Leone creative industries and the digital economy have a long way to go though it is central to the country’s heritage, our socio-economic and sustainable development needs of a country.
She also encouraged young people, especially women, to take advantage of the training as it will help them to acquire entrepreneurial skills and become self-reliant in society.
Assistant Director of the Home Economics Unit at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, Mariatu Allier Koroma, applauded Daughters of Sierra Leone (DOSL) for the laudable venture in organizing the vocational empowerment training for young people in the country.
She pointed out that there is need for Sierra Leoneans to be empowered with skills that will make them self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the job market.
Mariatu Allier Koroma also commended participants, especially women, adding that there is always the saying that when you educate a woman, you educate a nation and when you educate a man you educate an individual furthering that moreover, this monetizing knowledge training program is very timely in Sierra Leone especially when Sierra Leoneans will be capacitated for the job market and train them online through the internet to be able to generate their own money considering the current situation of female youths who are suffering in the hands of men they are victims of early pregnancy.
She maintained that she is with the strong conviction that the training will make an impact on participants whom she said are lucky to be selected to participate in the training.
Mariatu Allier Koroma urged them to give their due cooperation to enable them understand the course and be able to apply the skills to enrich themselves and at the same time build the economy of the country by transferring the knowledge gained from the training to others.
One of the beneficiaries, Margret Kargbo, expressed appreciation to Daughters of Sierra Leone (DOSL) for organizing such a training which she said has given her the required entrepreneurial skills.
She promised to use the skills acquired to empower others stating how she really learnt new ideas in terms of marketing her ideas.
