Advise for Youths in Sierra Leone

If ‘great’ is the love we have for thee - Mama Salone - its high time the youths of this country started regarding themselves as the nation’s only instrument of hope in the future by participating productively in the drive to move this nation forward.
 

Youths should not be dependent on the government, but must realize the fact that they owe this nation their loyalty, love and protection. As a former American President once told his countrymen, ‘Ask not what America can do for you, but what you can do for America.’ So Sierra Leoneans must also ask themselves the same question.  They must bear in mind that a disservice to the nation means a disservice to God and posterity will hold them to ransom.

It is no hidden secret that a large percentage of the youth population disgracefully makes living by robbery and other petty crimes. Little wonder that cases of pilfery and mobile phone snatching abound in our city centres.
 

Many of these youths hold the wrong view that they want to work but it’s the government that is reneging on providing employment for them. The question that begs for answer here is what type of employment precisely do these youths seek?
 

Let our youths bear in mind that not everybody can either be educated or employed by the government. I suggest that those not fortunate to be formally educated engage in learning other skills for self employment.
 

A typical case study of youths who have decided to live by their modest trade is seen at Garrison Street where these young men have employed themselves in the art of manicure and pedicure to earn their daily living.
 

Even though the work they are doing will not easily fall into the category of skilled labour, they do earn enough to take care of themselves and their wives and children. “This is what I want other young men to emulate,” Mohamed Kamara who is one of the members in the informal cosmetology trade told this writer who was griped by admiration when he visited their corner at Garrison Street. With an aura of pride, Mohamed also disclosed that they do earn handsomely daily, as he revealed that for a complete pedicure and manicure treatment, it costs a few thousand leones and considering the rate at which women go in for the ‘nail treatment’, these youths are sure to be making fabulous money!

Mohamed again told this writer that the day’s profit is what they use to tip the boys that go in search of customers, pay their rentages and also take care of their livelihood.
 

In spite of the fact that they are faced with challenges in the business, their reputable status can definitely not be compared to those who prefer going about pick pocketing and snatching  people’s mobile phones for these latter ones always risk being sent to jail.
 

Though the government did not provide jobs for them, the reality is that they are making a genuine living out of self employment.
 

Youths of this nation, how long would you allow yourselves to be frustrated by the government for purportedly not meeting your expectations? Is this what has dragged you into indulging in crimes and parasitical way of life?
 

Help this nation by helping yourselves so tomorrow we all will proudly say “this is the land that we love, our Sierra Leone.”
 

If we wish for the blessings and peace of this land to descend on us all, we must keep our pledge of love and loyalty to our country by developing our livelihoods all by ourselves.
Thanks for not only listening but for also heeding to this short advise.

Abdul Fonti