Youth Empowerment- a multi-track approach in a Country recovering from war

Sierra Leone is a country with huge potentials for post-conflict recovery and the private sector is passionate about complementing the efforts of government to change the lives of its people. One such initiative is the non-profit, khadarlis For Sierra Leone involved with development activities at the ground level in rural communities ranging from providing housing, improving health facilities, undertaking sustainable and efficient  agricultural programs to enhance livilihood and for the market, promoting quality education at the same time involving the youth in all these activities. The concern for youth empowerment cannot be downplayed by any government again in Africa as their role in society is significant and  delicate.

Sierra Leone has a youthful population of nearly  60% and the involvement of this  young generation in development activities is crucial to the overall objective of nation building. At the moment, khadarlis for Sierra Leone is  embarking on raising awareness on the need for vocational education to be incorporated into the curriculum of the only Government Secondary School in the vicinity of the historic Jimmi Bagbo, where we presently implement projects, not only  by advocating for a sustainable school farm and gardening  system, but also to provide adequate vocational training facilities in carpentary, masonory, computer skills, and other relevant skills to cater for various talents and aptitude for  our youthful population in that part of the country.  Same efforts will be replicated for unemployed youths in all the communities around Jimmi.

The global economy today requires an all out engagement with development partners who are poised to channel scarce resources into rural development, especially involving youths in order  to leverage the incidence of rural-urban migration by supporting projects  in rural communities that would provide similar services that are available in the big cities. This also serves as a  fundamental pre-requisite of socio-economic development on an equitable scale in developing countries. The Nonprofits Organisations are very crucial in initiating and following through with these initiatives in close collaboration with the government.

Posted by Khadarlis For Sierra Leone.

Agriculture v. Infrastructure: The Investment Debate

            It’s no secret that these days, there isn’t enough money to go around. In our own lives we are more conscious than ever of where our money goes – how could it be better spent? Am I wasting it this way or am I being frugal? Of the things I could spend it on, which deserve the limited funds I have? It’s no different in the world of nonprofit aid and assistance. The question of investment comes up again and again with reference to the two complementary portions of Sierra Leone’s economy – agriculture and industrialism.

            The trends in aid right now seem to tend towards the infrastructure side of things. People want to invest in small businesses – see them grow into established parts of the community, or even become big and spread to other locations. To be fair, a successful economy cannot survive without currency trade. Some investment in these must be made to keep the economy from backsliding into agrarian dependency. However, agriculture is a crucial part of keeping Sierra Leone on the path to greater development.

            Agriculture provides a solid foundation for a country to thrive. To begin with, hunger is a serious issue in Sierra Leone. Nearly half the population engages in what is known as “subsistence agriculture” (farming for survival, not for trade). Yet, as of 2008, over 20% of children under the age of five classify as underweight. Still, excepting diamonds and rutile, agricultural products hold all the spots on the list of Sierra Leone’s top exports. 51% of the GDP comes from agriculture alone.

            Investing in sustainable and efficient agriculture is an incredibly vital piece of any aid given to Sierra Leone. When people are given the tools to maximize the crop potential of any arable land they possess, they can stop farming for subsistence and begin to farm for export and trade – a cornerstone of a healthy economy. Upon that rock, industrialization can begin to grow. Investments in the proper tools for farmers, as well as education on techniques to get the most out of their land, will help to build a foundation for Sierra Leone to progress to an infrastructure and service based economy more characteristic of a highly developed nation.

Marisa N.
Volunteer Blogger | Khadarlis for Sierra Leone

Healthcare and the Development Gap: Pulse Oximetry

            A recent study published in the Lancet (a renowned medical journal) has recommended that all infants, upon birth, receive a special heart test using a pulse oximeter. This would help to detect flaws in heart and vein structure directly after birth and allow for early treatment of potentially deadly heart defects. While this is an excellent recommendation, several recent articles have questioned the use of this technology in the developing world.

            The supporters of encouraging new testing practices in Africa have a fair point. Sierra Leone ranks 12^th in the world in infant mortality, with approximately 77 deaths per 1,000 live births – one can imagine even a small portion of those deaths must be the result of congenital heart defects. Even if it is only a small fraction, that technology must be worth investing in, correct? I mean, one can hardly even call it an investment. The average cost of a pulse oximetry test is $5-7 per infant, because the oximeter is reusable. Detecting heart problems directly after birth could be the first step to reducing the mortality rate.

            However, Sierra Leone’s problem (and the developing world’s as a whole) does not lie in detecting these potentially fatal defects. It really lies in diagnosing and treating them. Even though the name may be unfamiliar, almost all of us have had a pulse oximetry test during our lifetimes – it’s more commonly known as a blood oxygen test, using a small device that clips onto the finger to measure oxygenation. Anybody in the medical profession will know that while a pulse oximetry test can help determine the existence of a heart problem, it’s far from a diagnosis. More extensive and complex tests are required to diagnose a problem, and even if that is possible, the developing world largely does not have access to the technology to significantly treat the many different kinds of congenital heart defects.

            In short, pulse oximeters are great tools for medical teams working abroad and permanent clinics in places like Sierra Leone. They can help rule out or detect heart problems for infants (as well as children and adults), but they are not a cure-all, nor will they significantly reduce the infant mortality rate like many think. Early detection tools, from relatively cheap, simple devices like pulse oximeters to MRIs and X-ray machines, are the tip of the iceberg. They complete one part of the disease cycle – detection. They are completely necessary in the sense that the cycle could not be completed without them, but they do not solve the problem. Early detection services and devices like the Khadarlis are working to provide are necessary investments in the future of health in Sierra Leone, but by no means are they silver bullets.

Marisa N.

Volunteer Blogger | Khadarlis For Sierra Leone