By Pat Kawa In Bo
The deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Patricia Nyanga Laverley, on Friday 7th June 2019 officially opened the Community Development Initiative office in Bo, southern Sierra Leone.
The ceremony attracted dignitaries from all works of life, including officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission in the south, students from Njala University and the media.
The deputy Minister of Finance, in her key note address, noted that she finds it most pleasant and a welcoming venture to be in Bo to serve as a distinguished guest who will deliver a key note speech at this august gathering. She praised the initiators and founders of Community Development Initiative COMDI-SL.
She disclosed that, as the deputy Minister of Finance, she believes in the dream and vision of COMDI-SL, which maintains that humans must work for the change, betterment and the inclusion of the marginalized in our communities. Madam Laverly continued that she is confident they will create the needed impact in the lives of Sierra Leoneans in the communities.
Madam Laverly assured all that she will work earnestly to ensure that their dreams are actualized for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of gender, region, tribe or color. She entreated all and sundry to support COMDI-SL in whatever little way they can.
The Deputy Minister urged the gathering to believe, trust and “have confidence in our indigenous organizations as they will be the ones that shall forever stay with us,” adding that international organizations may come and go, “but our local organizations will be here with us.“
“It is our responsibity to help them grow, rather than trying to pull them down,” she stated, and concluded by stating that it is her sincere hope that COMDI-SL shall succeed in their objectives in working with our communities across the country.
Fr. Samuel Von. Tucker, President and Chief Priest COMDI-SL, spoke on the profile of his organization, which, he noted, was established in 2016 and has offices across the country. He added ha I is a view to make a positive and desirable change in targeted communities in Bo District in particular and the country as a whole.
He noted that Community Development Initiative Sierra Leone is a non-Governmental and non-profitable organization registered with all the necessary line Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The founder informed all and sundry that his organization is composed of Sierra Leoneans who have the passion to contribute to national development through selfless and dedicated service by creating direct impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.
“This will make a positive and desirable lasting and sustainable change,” the founder informed.
Community Development Initiative Sierra Leone, according to the founder, works in support and collaboration with other humanitarian organizations including Government and other line ministries.
Their aim as an organization is to intervene in areas such as civil education rights and advocacy, women’s empowerment and psycho-social support, education, capacity building, peace building, religious dialogue, health promotion, water and sanitation, construction, rehabilitation work and agricultural development.
Since the establishment of COMDI-SL, the President and Chief Priest, Fr. Samuel Von Tucker, noted that it has been involved in sanitization of communities in selected chiefdoms in the Bo District. He said it that started as a community based organization (CBO), as a way of strengthening its organization’s capacity to adequately respond to development challenges, and to contribute towards the lives of marginalized and vulnerable women, children and youth.
He maintained that COMDI-SL, over the years, has contributed to development initiatives by contributing to improved agricultural production and local governance and health, among others. It also brings in sustained livelihood by pursuing their priorities while positioning itself to respond to emerging threats resulting from natural and manmade disasters.
COMDI-SL Executive Director, Mr. Tommy Josephus Vandy, said they are a committed team that has come together with the aim of creating impact in the lives of communities they will be operating.
He noted that COMDI-SL will start operations in selected communities in the Bo District, but shall expand operation to other parts of the country and the sub region in the near future.
The executive Director continued that this sounds like a vaulting ambition, but with the support of Government and other organizations COMDI –SL target shall be met. He told the jam-packed gathering that they count on the dignitaries who graced the occasion to support his organization in their various ways to ensure that the dream of COMDI-SL becomes a reality.
Mr. Vandy implored the people to be patient with them in their shortcomings in making their organization a success and sustainable.
He said they are foreseeing challenges and frustrations, especially when funding possibilities are shrinking globally on a daily basis, when other organization are being formed every day and all depend on the same funding streams.
Mr. Tommy Josephus Vandy thanked all the people for finding time among their busy schedules to grace the all-important occasion.
ACC Outreach Director, Patrick Sandy, encouraged the key players of COMDI-SL to be focused in their development strides. He urged then to be transparent and accountable as they will be dealing with both local and international donor funds.
Mr. Patrick Sandy said corruption affects national development by switching state resources for personal use
Corruption, he added, affects and reduces the capacity of government to effectively deliver services and undermines public confidence in the state.
Mr. Patrick Sandy continued that public education is aimed at creating awareness about the evils of corruption and the benefit of a corrupt free society and for mobilize support in fighting corruption, which is why he said it will be achieved through the effect of public lectures, symposium, seminars, and workshops on corruption.
The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Abu-Bakarr Max Kanu, while representatives from civil society organizations, Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Community Based Organizations and board member of COMDI –SL, Mr. Frank E. Williams made meaningful contributions.
The ceremony was climaxed with the pouring of libation followed by the blessing of the office by Fr. Swaray and the cutting of tapes by various dignitaries.