UN Women Launches Change Makers Initiative
By Desmond Isaac Macauley
The United Nations Women (UN Women) has on Wednesday 20th November launched the Change Makers Initiative at Sierra Palms resort at Aberdeen in Freetown.
The Resident Coordinator of UN Women, Madam Seraphine Wakan talked about the UN Women initiatives on governance participation, ending violence against women and equipping women in economic empowerment. She furthered that, the opportunity for these Change Makers is not only for learning and documenting but also to help them achieve their innate objectives.
She also mentioned the partners and program specialists who will be working with them to achieve the organization aims and admonished the Change Makers to be critical and remain observant in executing their roles when delivering service to communities.
Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi estimated that over 70% of the country’s population are youths and noted that it is time for them as Change Makers to work as a team to foster growth and ensure youth empowerment.
“Nowadays, youth don’t want to work they just think everything should be given to them,” she stated.
She emphasised the need for students to not just be job seekers but job creators and highlighted the benefits of having a growth mindset and how fast the world is changing, stating that, only those who are willing to adapt and change will thrive. She mentioned her successes which she said are not based on luck but hard work.
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Patrick Michealson Gibrilla showered praises on government for the inclusion of youths in governance and mentioned the Feed Salone initiative that aims to address the food security in the country.
He furthered that as future leaders of Sierra Leone the change makers should stay focus and that as a young minister, he is ready to support young people’s vision. “Our government is grateful to the United Nations Women for bringing such initiative to help build human capital development in the country,” he said.
Minister of State Office of the Vice President, Manty Tarawallie sheared her excitement to be part of the United Nations Women initiative. She said that as changer Maker’s, they should be excited in accepting their new roles as creative change makers when going out to communities to empower and create change. She encouraged the change makers to be nutrition ambassadors and encouraged them to be going to schools, communities to provide nutrition guidance for the young and aged.
Designator Consultant for the United Nations Women, Victoria Nambwaayo concluded that, Change Makers should be focused on making impactful changes and create contents that are meaningful. She mentioned that they have high expectations of these Change Makers and that they are expecting them to demonstrate the power of individual action, with the thinking that positive change begins with a single person’s willingness to act. She said that their stories should inspire others to step forward, and that together they can create a more just, equitable and sustainable world.
