MADAM Sierra Leone Certifies 100 Graduates

As a way harnessing the capacities of youth in Sierra Leone, the Man kind’s Activities for Development Accreditation Movement (MADAM) has in July, 2018 certified 100 trainees in Electrical engineering, Welding, computer studies, and catering & hotel business
among others.

The Coordinator for the Youth Education and Enterprise Development project; Peter S. Kargbo said that since the inception of this project, hundreds of students have been unleashed to the job market. While addressing graduands and invited dignitaries, Kargbo noted that under the Skills Upgrading Centre (SUC), trainees are able to acquire skills in entrepreneurship, competency based training pedagogy, life skills training and career counseling.

As a partner to the Civil Peace service Network, MADAM believes that youth will refrain from anti social activities when they are gainfully engaged and thus, MADAM initiated
these training courses to give hope and a brighter future to the young generation of Sierra Leone.
“You can have the skills but that does not automatically translate to employment. With MADAM, “we have the entrepreneurship partnership to provide job for these trainees. Our main focus therefore is to reduce the soaring spate of youth unemployment and to promote peace amongst the youth and the Sierra Leonean populace,” he disclosed.

The Director of Human Resources at the University of Makeni (UniMak); Madam Veronica Ramatu Kamara disclosed that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has estimated that about 70% of youth are unemployed or underemployed while 60% of Sierra Leoneans live below the poverty line. She expressed her admiration for MADAM for its leading role in empowering youth, transformation of communities and developing leadership skills and among others.

She further noted in her keynote address that graduation is a time for celebration and triumph thereby marking the end of one phase and the beginning of the next adding that it is a proud moment for the graduands, parents and teachers who have played part in the transformation of the lives of the trainees.

“You should remember that you do not know it all but the belief and trust you have in yourselves couple with the ability to make room to learn new ideas will make you outstanding,” she cautioned.