The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has praised United Team Sierra Leone (U Team SL)’s development proposal, describing it as a comprehensive and multifaceted plan that embodies a whole-of-government approach. The commendation came during a high-level diplomatic engagement between ECOWAS Resident Representative to Sierra Leone, H.E Ambassador John Azumah, and members of the United Team Sierra Leone.
Mohamed Kallon, Head of the U Team SL Secretariat, provided an overview of the organization, highlighting its composition of young graduates from diverse fields, and its establishment since 2014 with over 300 membership based.
Bilkisu Jalloh made a presentation on behalf of the U Team SL showcasing the organization’s work plan and pro bono development programs, including community service initiatives during the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics.
She also presented the organization’s Six-years Strategic Development Plan (2024/2030), and a U Team SL’s Development Trust Fund worths $ 2.7 Million to champion national development initiatives.
Presentations by various committee heads highlighted the organization’s interests in investing in agriculture, healthcare, education, and youth empowerment, aligning with President Bio’s Feed Salone and Free Quality Education initiatives.
The team also emphasized their commitment to addressing gender equality and providing free legal services to victims of sexual and gender-based violence; advocating for economic growth, conducting community awareness raising campaigns on nonviolence, free and fair elections, through volunteerism and community engagement.
They also stated that their organization is nationally recognized with volunteers ranging from chiefdom, district, region and national levels. They concluded that their organization recently gained a partnership sponsorship from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs to combat child marriage and teenage pregnancy in Pujehun District, through the Young Women Leading Change Innovation Challenge project.
ECOWAS Resident Representative Ambassador Azumah expressed admiration for the team’s proposals and assured them that his office would link them with international partners for support, despite lacking the necessary funding.
The United Team Sierra Leone welcomed the offer and expressed eagerness to collaborate with ECOWAS and other partners to implement their development agenda.
The engagement demonstrated the potential for youth-led initiatives to drive national development and the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable progress.
The United Team Sierra Leone’s proposal has garnered attention and support from regional bodies, paving the way for potential collaboration and implementation of their projects.