1st EducAidian Professionals Conference - 12th October 2013

Modupe Taylor-Pearce inspiring the young EducAidians

So many good things happening that there is no time to blog about them!

On 12th October, 2013, the EducAid past pupils held their first EducAidian Professionals Conference.

Emmanuel Gaima leading the conference
in drawing up the Charter

The event was organised by Haja Gbla, Fatmata Romalieu Barrie, Yahyah Kamara and Ibrahim Bai Bundu - all past pupils themselves.  Haja is now doing her distance Higher Teachers' Certificate and teaches in the Women's Project in Lumley and Freetown Central Prison.  Fatmata is teaching in the Women's Project in Lumley and pursuing her ACCA studies.  Yahyah and Ibrahim are studying accounting in the same class and they both help out at the Lumley school.

They did a fantastic job, the event was well attended and participants were enthusiastic about the opportunity to get together and to reaffirm their principles.

EducAidian Professionals lining up to sign the Charter

The purpose of the conference was to provide an opportunity for the youngsters who leave EducAid enthused and principled, ready to take on corruption and do their bit to change the world to reaffirm this commitment.  It is hard to be the only person resisting corruption in a working place or class.  It is easier, if you have signed a commitment, if you have others supporting you, if you have reminders from other like-minded people as to why you are taking this stance.

Apart from the excitement of seeing friends they had lost sight of for many years, the youngsters were enthused by the appeal from exciting speakers: Harriet Gaima, Ibrahim Tommy and Modupe Taylor-Pearce.  Later, Emmanuel Gaima, facilitated a session when the participants put together their Charter: Vision, Mission, Commitments and Mutual Accountability Mechanisms.

Keen to commit themselves to a life with integrity

We had great media coverage on African Young Voices (AYV radio), SLBC, and Voices of the Diaspora.

Our hope is that, through ventures such as this, we can start to have a significant impact on the country more widely.  We are starting to position ourselves so that we are able to have an impact more broadly in Sierra Leone.

We aim to re-inspire each other to live and work well.  We aim to encourage other likeminded people to believe it is possible and to join forces so that the habits of corruption and greed get left behind.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk