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Getting to Zero Out of School Children in Sierra Leone says David Sengeh

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Public education on Public Education: Getting to Zero Out of School Children in Sierra Leone

On the side lines of the Doha Forum, Sierra Leone has taken huge steps to universal primary school education.

Today, I signed an MoU on behalf of the Government that will ensure the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) provides support for 45,000 learners in Sierra Leone. This project will be implemented by the NGO Street Child on behalf of the government. The signing was done with Mr. Khalifa Al-Kuwari, the Director General of QFFD, as the Qatar Minister of Education and the CEO of Education Above All Foundation (EAA), watched.

Immediately after, we had a strategic meeting with the Director of EAA’s Educate a Child program, Dr Mary Pigozzi. We officially agreed to make Sierra Leone a Zero Out of School country partner. This means we are committing to developing a program supported by EAA, which will lead to universal access to primary school in Sierra Leone. The leadership of EAA will visit us in May to move the program along.

On my delegation also is Mr Mohamed Shaw- the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Basic and Senior Secondary Education. I believe it is imperative to collaborate across the government if we are to achieve our national development goals.

At Doha, I have also also gotten to connect with my dear friends and colleagues, including H.E Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation from Rwanda. Paula is opening a center for 4IR in Kigali next week. I am proud of her work.

Yesterday, as Co-Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Transforming Education Summit Advisory Committee, we facilitated a discussion with 7 ministers of Education to develop a framework for national consultations and education financing.

Sierra Leone is doing this while laying the foundation and digging the well for quality education to flow. This week, we endorsed the Implementation Plan for Radical Inclusion with our partners. And this follows our Out of School Children strategy validated last week and our ongoing dissemination of the SSS curriculum.

Change is possible. Change is hard, but by God’s power, change is coming.

Copyright Moinina David Sengeh

Aspiring Housemates Salone Season 3 Contender Julie Tombo

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Meet aspiring Housemates Salone Season 3 Contender Hassanatu Julie Conteh aka Julie Tombo the Yagba Diva. This vivacious personality has already won the heart of the viewers who have already started calling themselves Team Tombolistics.

The beautiful Julie is a mother to six adorable children all residing with her in the United States of America. She’s contesting to be part of the most eagerly anticipated reality show ever in Sierra Leone Housemates Salone Season 3.

This year in particular has had so much buzz and online hype it’s unbelievable and already has not gone without its own share of drama, saga, publicity stunts, complete madness compared to the other seasons. This season has also been the most talked about reality show ever and one reason for that is mostly because of Julie. She is such an unforgettable character that everyone who meets her wants to know her more and see what she’s upto next?

In case you are wondering where the name TOMBOLISTICS comes from, here is a little some back story…. Julie took the name Tombo fondly known as team Tombolistics from a popular Sierra Leonean footballer named Musa Kamara or aka Musa Tombo. The story goes that one day his wife Hawa Kamara made a viral video post on social media that she no longer wanted to remain married to the famous Sierra Leonean footballer Musa Tombo and that she was divorcing him.

However less than an hour after posting the video Hawa came back on social media stating she was only joking and it was all a prank. Well Hawa it may have been too late the damage was already done especially shortly after her husband said something different in another video drama which went viral where he said he will not marry Julie type because she has six children.

Amidst the drama of the Tombo’s a pressing question many have asked is whether Julie has the right to use the name Tombo as her stage name. I will leave you to be a judge of that, but if I must say the average Sierra Leonean would argue that the name TOMBO doesn’t belong to Musa Tombo or his wife however Tombo is in fact a name of a place in Sierra Leone and so should Julie wish to use the name she has every common right to do so.

Let me just add for Julie this is all in the name of promotion, a strategy for the Housemates Salone competition and all she is doing is wearing her business cap and owning this. She sees using the name Tombo as an opportunity to get supporters and part of her Housemates Salone journey.

Even though the name has been causing a lot of social media outburst, drama and attention I would say its a very clever move which will gain Julie a lot of supporter’s and possibly win the show.
Julie is a very hard working individual, very outspoken, confident, an entrepreneur owning a fashion brand in America called Jujunova. Julie have been through so much in life especially at a young age making her one of the youngest mother at age 14. Despites all her challenges and difficulties she’s determined to make success of herself and her kids.

About Julie

Age 29 soon to hit the BIG 30!! The possibility of a better life for her and her children is the motivation for her going into the house. Therefore she has so much banking on entering the house and she needs all your support.

When Julie wins Housemates Salone season 3 competition it will give her the chance to empower herself and of course her children, but also Julie wants to empower other young mothers who have been victims of stigmatisation. She also aims to raise awareness on early teenage pregnancies and educate young Women and Men on the importance of safe sex. She’s therefore calling on the public and Sierra Leoneans to join her in her pledge to enter the Housemates Salone season 3 House by voting for #teamtombolistic Aka Julie Tombo!

Julie and Musa Tombo

Follow Julie Tombo on Facebook D Yagba Diva and other social media platforms Julie Tombo. Don’t forget to buy her t-shirt and accessories which is available in the UK, Sierra Leone and America. For more information on how to get her merchandise contact her on her Facebook page (D Yagba Diva). You can also make money contributions on Zelle or cashapp# +1 (267) 495-7935 Africell money #+23288602939 Orange money #+23274897772, PayPal susan_kamara@yahoo.com 860-987-7025

Julie Tombo Audition

Watch the Yagba Diva Herself

Fantacee Wiz posted on Twitter that she was raped

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Folk singer Fantacee Wiz took to Twitter and posted that she was raped twice. Because of that she hated men for years and started dating men very late unlike her peers due to these experiences. The first time she was raped was during the war at an early age and went through the same process again by someone she trusted.

Here is her post on Twitter

“I was raped during the war as a child by an opportunist that took advantage of the war. After that I got raped again by someone I trusted(spiked my drink and the rest was history).
🧿📿🧘🏽‍♀️

I hated men and everything that comes with it because I had this anger inside of me that I held on to. I had to let go of that anger for me to move forward from the pain and be a better person. And I started dating late unlike my peers and men were disposable to me until quite recently.

DW (Deutsche Welle) is a German public, state-owned international broadcaster, for the first time ever I had to tell my story(Internationally) on DW 77 Percent.”

We are sorry to hear that and hope you are able to heal and move forward.

Read Interview she did with I Rep Salone Media years ago 

Fantacee Wiz is a Sierra Leonean award-winning, traditional folk singer born in Kabala however raised in Freetown where she finished her high school and went to college and studied ICT. She is one of the traditional singer among the new school of recording artists in Sierra Leone. She’s also an actor, dancer, designer, poet, children’s ambassador, activist and one of the most influential women in Sierra Leone.

Why was rapper Laj arrested by the police?

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According to close source, selected entertainers including Laj, Prezo Koroma, Dj Lawva, Foyoh and Henrietta Mbawah had a meeting at Mams in regards to singer Vida’s health. During the meeting, they noticed a police van pulled up at their location. Prior to that a call was made to a known person that Laj is going to be arrested. Laj went outside to find out the reason for his arrests and he was told a gentleman reported to them (police) that an iPhone was taken from him by the rapper.

According to Laj’s explanation to the police the gentleman is also in possession of his watch worth  around £8000 plus some money totalling to three million Leones. To our understanding Laj and this gentleman used to hang out together and were cool at some point. He was given a bag to look after which had the money inside, the gentleman stated there was an incident where the money got lost in the process. After some time the gentleman and Laj met, he had an iPhone in his hand, Laj took it away from him and seized it since he could not produce his money and watch. However the phone doesn’t belong to this gentleman so the owner of the phone reported the gentleman for his phone to the police. The gentleman spent days in police net, when asked the whereabouts of the phone he told the police that Laj has it which led to the arrests of La.

Though some people and blog pages online are saying otherwise and that it’s politically motivated. Laj is currently in police cell for further questioning till later on for a way forward.

The phone in question

Note: some information were not disclosed due to names mentioned and how personal the conversation was.

Watch video of his arrest

Sierra Leone young achiever, Bashir Koroma | A graduate from Makeni

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Read Bashir Koroma story, despites his struggles and challenges he was able to graduate and in his own words made his family and friends proud. It was so inspiring to read which shows that anything is possible all is needed is determination and focus. Congratulations to the young man.

I AM BASHIR FROM A HUMBLE BEGINNING!

After my Dad’s death in 2017, that led to the dropout of my 2 elder siblings, our elder sister never attempted school, I was traumatized if going to school was achievable. As a young boy in high School, I witnessed a transition from Middle class to lack as all our properties were sold to save many in the family and mom’s health which we are still battling with.

After Secondary school, I knew I wanted to attend the best University in Sierra Leone, the vision was clear even when the money was not there, I took 3 years off. I worked as a Secondary School Teacher during the day (7am-2pm) and retired to the aid my brother to rent bicycles during the evening hours(4pm-7pm). My weekends were the busiest, I organized classes for JSS1- SS2 (Saturdays) on Sunday I do rent bicycles and also visit the tailoring shop to learn, but each time I go to the track to rent bicycles and tailoring shop to learn, I remind myself that I don’t belong here, I cried many times due to the scorching sun, tattered clothes which we consider designers dress at that time, getting underpaid as a community teacher of le100,000 and I told God to help me.

Fortunately in 2016 I joined Families Without Borders as a new Bee, got a scholarship to do one year of community service as a probationary stage and in 2017, I was fully admitted to study Mass Communication at the University of Makeni (UniMak).

My parents and siblings were so happy for me but life didn’t get easier, I started Lectures with few dresses , I did part-time jobs to cope like posting for individuals on my page as a form of advertising, steal part of my studies to teach and do assignments for colleagues even when we aren’t not in the same department. Each semester break, I didn’t go home but be in the search for places to do my internship as the organization requires, I was fortunate to do internship with the Makeni City Council, Africa Young Voices, and many more….I did this even in the 3rd year as an undergraduate and it was still tough. My colleagues in Mile 91 said I’m deceiving them that I was in the university, they told my customers who do rent bicycles from me that I lied, but I was so desperate to transit from the “old me” It was terrible, I was utterly broken when issues of such do came up. I cried to God to help me complete my undergraduate degree.

Today, I’m happy that i have finally graduated at the University, the first in our family lineage, I’ve made my family and friends super proud. I can gladly go to that School and tell my colleagues that I’m done with school.

I finished with a First Class- First Division with Honours in Mass Communication, I held the highest leadership position a student can have, as the Student Union President with a population of over 7,000 , I led over 15 university students to impact their communities which transformed the lives of many youth and trigger many to valued education because I know what it means to have nothing and want to pursue your dream, bagged 8 Awards in the University event organized by various departments and the SRC, Led a team to Win competitions and Prizes for the University , Provided Job Opportunities for colleagues students, Organized events that will aid colleagues, volunteered in over 10 organizations, passed 140 examinations and got featured twice in a newspaper both national and International, served as a Guest Speaker in many leadership event both national and international.

Take a look at my picture and see the smile on my face, it’s a smile of victory, I pray the gown on my graduation day unlocks future degree + and celebrations.

You see, God didn’t fail me, I know he won’t fail you too. This story is to inspire you to focus on your dreams and stay True to God.

God kept to His words.

Housemates Salone Season 3 contender Augusta Kumba Youngai

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Augusta Kumba Youngai is currently living in the United States of America, an aspiring contestant for Housemates Salone Season 3. She is a BSC holder in Business Administration as well as an IT Specialist (Data management Processing) and an inspiring Lawyer. She is a spontaneous humanitarian who has been involved in independent charitable works for children, women and youths in Sierra Leone for a decade now on a low scale. She’s also an Entrepreneur and a Business woman doing her business in and out of Sierra Leone where she uses her funds to empower selected youths in order to develop their skills and help with job opportunities.

Augusta Youngai is an embodiment of inspiration and has so much under her sleeves that she wants to continue implementing in her country Sierra Leone therefore taking part in the Housemates Salone will enabled her to further and developed her skills as well as empowering others with the winning prize and her voice. She is an intentional woman who has been making a difference and has so much more to offer. Please join her on this journey of Housemates Salon Season 3.. She has all what it takes to make Sierra Leone and her people PROUD.

#TheFirstLady4HMSS3 #TeamEmpowerment

Sierra Leone must win with Equatorial Guinea match on Thursday

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Sierra Leone must win with Equatorial Guinea match on Thursday

Leone Stars are set to play their final Group E match against Equatorial Guinea on Thursday at the ongoing Afcon2021 tournament in Cameroon. However there is a pressure for Sierra Leone to win the match for them to proceed to the last 16.

Sierra Leone will be going head to head with Equatorial Guinea on its last group match of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon on the 20th January 2022 at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium, Limbe city, Cameroon. Exactly 4:00pm

On paper, Sierra Sierra Leone is going into this game as favourites considering the huge stats advantages its has against the Equatorial Guinea side.

In six (6) meetings, Sierra Leone had won four (4) and Equatorial Guinea only managed to win one (1) and draw one. Sierra Leone position 25th whilst Equatorial Guinea is position 28th in Africa according to the FIFA ranking in 2021. At the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea sits 2nd with 3pts whereas Sierra Leone is 3rd with 2pts.

A win for Sierra Leone is enough to qualify to the round of 16 as that is what speaks the anticipation of the fans back home. A draw depends on other fixtures to favour Leone Stars to qualify as one of the four best losers, which will be a huge pressure and a setback to the Leone Stars team and country.

What’s your prediction and if you were the coach who will start and bench?

Credit: NewsFeedSierraLeone🇸🇱

African Union Recognises Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Bio as Champion of Sanitation and Hygiene

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African Union Recognises Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Bio as Champion of Sanitation and Hygiene, Praises Her Hands Off Our Girls Campaign

State House, Freetown, Thursday 27 May 2021, The African Ministers’ Council on Water, AMCOW, has recognised Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio, as African Champion of Sanitation and Hygiene, the third prominent person to be honoured after Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The championship honour is in recognition of her tireless efforts in ensuring that women and girls have access to a clean and safe environment, citing her landmark ‘Hand’s Off Our Girls’ campaign and programmes, which has also commenced a nationwide distribution of free sanitary pads to school-going children.

AMCOW was formed in 2002 in Abuja, Nigeria, primarily to promote cooperation, security, social and economic development and poverty eradication among member states through the effective management of the continent’s water resources and provision of water supply.

Acting Executive Secretary of AMCOW, Thomas Banda, extended warm fraternal greetings from the secretariat and noted that the status of Africa in terms of water and sanitation was not anything good to write home about. He added that access to adequate water and safe sanitation and hygiene services was still a challenge to many of the over 400 million people of the African continent.

“It is in this regard that AMCOW Secretariat initiated efforts to identify, engage and nominate a high-level champion for sanitation and hygiene. The search kept narrowing down until we landed at the profile of Her Excellency, the First Lady of Sierra Leone,” he stated.

Mr Banda said they looked forward to working with Madam Fatima Bio to strengthen their advocacy efforts and to ensure that everyone around the continent had access to safely managed sanitation and hygiene, including menstrual health and hygiene services, and towards ending open defecation in Africa.

In her brief acceptance speech, the First Lady said she was positively overwhelmed by the African Union recognition of her work, which she was doing very passionately. She thanked President Bio for not only being her husband but for also being her adviser, mentor and for believing in her as a woman.

“I want to say thank you, Your Excellency, for your support. I will succeed only if you continue to give me that support. For Africa to see me and the work I am doing to serve humanity, it is because of the free space you have given me to work,” she noted.

Mrs. Bio further said that hygiene and satiation together remained a serious challenge and one she said needed attention. She, therefore, promised to would work with all stakeholders to not only see Sierra Leone become a cleaner and hygienic country, but to also push for a cleaner Africa as a whole.

“Thank you very much African Ministers’ Council on Water for this recognition. Thank you, my team, from the Office of the First Lady, for your support. It is because of you that I have the zeal and oxygen to do more work that has led to this achievement,” she concluded.

President Bio described the event as particularly significant because it was a ceremony at which a very passionate Sierra Leonean, who had provided leadership for causes that had changed attitudes and life outcomes, was being recognised.

“We are especially proud of her extensive work throughout Sierra Leone with ‘Hands Off Our Girls.’ Madam First Lady, as a result of your fervent advocacy for gender empowerment and for the protection of women against sexual and gender-based violence, more girls are now safer in their communities and schools.

“More girls persist in school and are not forced into early marriages; more girls have access to menstrual hygiene products; and there is greater recognition of the immense potential of girls in fostering sustainable and inclusive development in Sierra Leone.

“Equality, equity, access, and empowerment are suddenly not incidental to how girls see themselves and believe in themselves in Sierra Leone. Congratulations again, Mrs Fatima Maada Bio, Sierra Leone is very proud of this continental recognition of your selfless and committed leadership. Thank you,” he concluded.

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer found guilty of George Floyd murder

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Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer found guilty of George Floyd murder

New York: 4/20/21 Derek Chauvin found guilty

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, killing the 46-year-old Black man, has been found guilty on all charges against him.

2nd degree murder- guilty
3rd degree murder- guilty
2nd degree manslaughter- guilty.

Bail was revoked and convict sent back to jail.

Derek Chauvin convicted of murdering George Floyd, faces 75yrs in jail

A US jury found the former police officer, Derek Chauvin, guilty of murdering African-American George Floyd after he knelt on his neck for over 9 minutes, on a Minneapolis street in May, 2020.

In a verdict which was broadcasted live on Tuesday, April 20, Chauvin was found guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.

The disgraced officer who has been in prison custody since his arrest, faces up to 75 years in prison when he returns for sentencing in eight weeks, BBC reports.

Buckingham Palace has announced that His Royal Highness Prince Philip has died

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Buckingham Palace has announced that His Royal Highness Prince Philip has died

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”

The Duke was married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 70 years and became the longest-serving consort in British history.

The Royal Family Twitter Page