The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, with support from the African Union Directorate of Women, Youths, and Gender, on Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th June 2024 facilitated a two-day Capacity Building Training on Mainstreaming and Management of Volunteerism in the country.
This training, which commenced today at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel, falls under the AU’s ‘Country Capacity Strengthening Support Programme.
Its main participants are representatives from Volunteer-Involving-Organizations in the public and private sectors, Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Madam Fatmata Mustapha, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, noted the pivotal role of volunteers in societal development, citing their resilience during crises like the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said that the Government recognized volunteerism as a strategic tool for sustainable development, reason it championed the development and validation of the National Volunteering Policy.
The Policy aims at addressing youth unemployment and promoting inclusive participation in nation-building.
Madam Mustapha stressed the policy’s significance in empowering citizens to contribute actively to national development, benefiting individuals, communities, government, and the private sector.
Dr. Masheha Shewarega, Coordinator of the African Union Continental Linkage Platform, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “together, we will pave the way for a brighter future through the power of volunteerism.”
“We are not here to reverse what you have done as a country, but to support you to move it forward,” he assured.
Earlier this year, the Ministry and its partners, with assistance from Voluntary Service Overseas, unveiled a pioneering Volunteering Policy aimed at leveraging volunteerism for societal progress.
The successful implementation of this Policy will position Sierra Leone to harness volunteerism as a catalyst for comprehensive national advancement, underscoring Government’s commitment to inclusive development and community resilience.
Credit: Information Unit Ministry of Labour
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Wednesday, June 12th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)