Youths dialogue for 2012 elections

By Maddieu A. A. T. Kabbah

Cross section of youth attending the Dialogue Forum

Sixty youths from the Lumley community have engaged in a dialogue to address the issue of violence ahead of the 2012 General Elections at a forum organized by the Movement for Youths and Children’s Rights in Sierra Leone at Lumley office.

Speaking at the forum, the National Coordinator, Mr. Dominic Maada Macavoray, said they decided to bring the young people together because most of them are vulnerable, noting that as a youth serving organization, they want to ensure that they educate the youths to desist from violence and focus on meaningful activities that will help them in the future.

He also stated that they have been engaged in studies which indicated that there are a lot of young people who still have the spirit of violence, and may want to engage in violent activities in the 2012 elections.

Maada Macavoray National Coordinator Movement for youth and children’s rights

“As youth leaders I believe that we are the best people to talk to our colleagues and make them listen,” he noted.

He also stated that they are preparing the minds of young people now as want to create relationships that will promote the culture of peace, love and unity among them.

Speaking on behalf the Office of National Security (ONS), Mr. Francis A. Lamin, the Assistant Desk Officer, stated that they are very supportive of any programme that denounces violence, which is why at anytime they call them to perform any function at such occasions they will attend.

He also stated that youths are the backbone of any country and therefore they should not allow anybody that to them to get involved in violence as that will not help them to become good and productive citizens in the country.

He also stated that violence is not the right way to solve problems but rather it only creates more problems that will only succeed in taking the country backward.