By Ibrahim Sesay

Caritas Sierra Leone, through its Youth in Politics and Peacebuilding Project, convened a one-day engagement session bringing together key stakeholders from the National Youth Commission, Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Freetown City Council, community leaders and youth representatives. The event, held on March 25, 2025, at the St. Anthony Parish Hall, aimed to strengthen community structures, including district youth councils, chiefdom development committess and mother support groups, while fostering advocacy and peacebuilding at the grassroots level.

Moses Blake, Youth Empowerment Officer at the National Youth Commission and facilitator of the session, underscored the critical role of community structures in promoting stability and social cohesion. He emphasized that engagements of this nature provide a platform to identify gaps within those structures and devise strategic interventions to enhance their effectiveness. Moses Blake highlighted the challenges confronting young people, including unemployment, political marginalization and limited access to resources. He also pointed to the opportunities available through partnerships with Government agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations, advocating for improved coordination among youth groups to amplify their voices in decision-making processes.

As part of the interactive session, participants were divided into working groups tasked with mapping out existing community structures, identifying challenges and proposing viable solutions. These deliberations culminated in presentations where participants outlined the issues affecting their respective communities and recommended strategies to address them.

Lumley Ward Councilor, Unisa Kamara, underscored the pivotal role of local Government in supporting youth-led peacebuilding initiatives. He reaffirmed Freetown City Council’s commitment to youth empowerment, stating that the Council has prioritized initiatives aimed at capacitating young people through innovation and entrepreneurship. He further revealed that the Council had secured a $50,000 grant through Bloomberg, with youth groups eligible to apply for up to $5,000 to support community-driven projects.

Unisa Kamara acknowledged that youth engagement in peacebuilding remains a significant challenge, citing the rising prevalence of drug abuse among young people as a key concern. Despite the creation of learning platforms and skills development programs, he lamented that many youths remain disengaged. He urged greater participation, stressing that youth involvement is crucial in ensuring sustainable community transformation.

Kadiatu Yusuf Bangura, a youth representative, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative and her determination to serve as a peace ambassador in her community. She stressed the importance of advocacy and active participation, calling on her peers to seize similar opportunities to have their voices heard in governance and peacebuilding processes. She noted that youth engagement in such forums is instrumental in addressing their challenges and shaping solutions that reflect their aspirations.

Esther Yatta Kallon, representing Freetown City Council, commended participants for their contributions in identifying community structures and the obstacles they face. She presented key points from the action plan formulated during the discussions, which included enhancing youth participation in governance, establishing long-term funding strategies and strengthening mentorship and networking opportunities. She reiterated the Council’s commitment to reviewing and finalizing the action plan, assigning responsibilities to community leaders and ensuring sustained engagement in youth development initiatives.

The engagement concluded on a note of optimism, with stakeholders reaffirming their dedication to fostering youth participation, strengthening community structures and advancing peacebuilding efforts across Sierra Leone.

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/caritas-sl-engages-stakeholders-on-peace-building-efforts/