By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a bid to equip persons with disabilities with the skills needed to set up their own businesses or livelihood opportunities in the country, Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues and funded by Christian Blind Mission through the Participation and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Local Community Development in Sierra Leone (PILCD-SL) project, certified 60 persons with disabilities in vocational training on Saturday, 25th May 2024. The event, held at St. Helena Secondary School on Bai Bureh Road in Kissy, East End of Freetown, also provided start-up support to help them launch their own businesses.
These 60 persons with disabilities, who have gained skills in cosmetology, tailoring and design, arts and craft, soap making, hairdressing, driving and more, were placed in various vocational institutions, including Exclusive Vocational Institute, Y.W.C.A Vocational Institute, Sierra Leone Association of the Blind, Brightest and Best Driving School, and USE-US Technical & Vocational Institute. After completing their training at these institutions, their certificates were presented to the Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone, culminating in the certification ceremony.
Edward Munda Jah, Programmes Manager at Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone, provided an overview of the Participation and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Local Community Development in Sierra Leone (PILCD-SL) project. He emphasized the project’s importance in empowering selected persons with disabilities by helping them gain skills in areas such as cosmetology, tailoring and design, arts and craft, soap making, hairdressing, driving and more.
He expressed gratitude to Christian Blind Mission for their funding and to the Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues for their support in making the project a success.
Edward Munda Jah highlighted the primary objectives of the project: reducing psychosocial distress by developing sustainable livelihood skills, fostering positive growth attitudes despite any disability, focusing on personal goals to contribute positively to society, reducing dependency on others, promoting self-reliance and inclusion and thus reducing human rights abuses, discrimination and stigma.
He expressed his strong conviction that as the project concludes, these objectives have been achieved and the certification marks a significant step towards enhancing the economic and social integration of persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone.
Abu Bakarr Koroma, the National Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues (SLUDI), highlighted the various components of their latest project, including education. He expressed his appreciation to the Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone for extending its partnership with SLUDI to implement this initiative and the Christian Blind Mission for providing the funding.
He noted that this is not the first project they have worked on together; during the COVID-19 pandemic, they collaborated on another project called “Stand Up to Stigma,” which supported many persons with disabilities.
The National Secretary General took the opportunity to urge the 60 persons with disabilities participating in the current project to make the best use of the knowledge and skills acquired during their training. He also emphasized the importance of using the start-up items for their intended purposes.
Walters Carew, Chairman of the Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone, explained that the Coalition originated from a project called Enabling Access, which was supported by the European Union. He emphasized that after the project’s conclusion, they chose to continue their efforts, believing in the importance of ongoing advocacy. The Coalition was initially established to advocate for the human rights and dignity of persons with AIDS and their caregivers, who faced significant discrimination.
He added that over time, the Coalition recognized that mental illness is a form of disability and that individuals with mental illness often cannot advocate for themselves. This realization led them to collaborate with others to turn these disabilities into abilities.
Carew highlighted the Participation and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Local Community Development in Sierra Leone (PILCD-SL) project, which aims to support persons with disabilities. He pointed out that society often strips these individuals of their dignity, particularly in terms of respect and employment, leading to their marginalization. The Coalition has worked to restore this dignity.
He noted that discrimination in schools often leads to high dropout rates among persons with disabilities, leaving many without the skills to earn an income and live independently. As a result, they are unable to contribute to society.
In closing, Carew stated that the project’s goal was to empower persons with disabilities, helping them reintegrate into society and regain their confidence and dignity. He noted that the 60 individuals who have acquired skills in cosmetology, tailoring and design, arts and craft, soap making, hairdressing, driving, and more, along with the start-up items provided, are now empowered to reclaim their dignity and contribute to society.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Saa Lamin Kortequee, emphasized the significance of the project in empowering persons with disabilities. He expressed appreciation to the Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone and the Christian Blind Mission for their support and efforts in implementing the project.
He highlighted that the project’s focus on socio-economic empowerment is crucial for providing livelihoods to persons with disabilities, making them self-reliant and independent.
He also noted that, historically, many persons with disabilities have had to rely on begging for income, which he described as undignified. Saa Lamin Kortequee stressed that reclaiming the dignity of persons with disabilities involves providing socio-economic empowerment, enabling them to earn an income and live independently.
He praised the project for its role in offering socio-economic empowerment and urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the skills acquired during their training and the start-up items provided, to establish and grow their businesses.
Abu Bakarr, one of the beneficiaries, expressed appreciation to the Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone and the Christian Blind Mission for implementing the project, which he said has transformed his life. “I gained valuable skills in tailoring and received start-up items to begin my own business. I now have the confidence and resources to support myself and contribute to my community,” he maintained.
Annie M. Kamara, another beneficiary, said the project provided her with valuable vocational skills and start-up items to establish her own business. She stated, “I am now able to support myself and contribute to my community, breaking free from the cycle of dependency. This project has restored my dignity and given me hope for a brighter future.”
“I am deeply grateful to the Mental Health Coalition Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues, and Christian Blind Mission for their unwavering support and commitment to empowering persons with disabilities. This initiative has truly transformed my life,” she concluded.
The ceremony culminated in the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries, followed by the distribution of start-up items, including sewing machines, makeup kits, soap-making materials, gara tie-dye items, and hairdressing tools, based on the skills acquired by each participant.
