By Mohamed Juma Jalloh
Since the end of the brutal Civil war, Sierra Leone has been plagued with a problem referred to as youth quake.
This is a concept used to describe a teeming unemployed and under-employed youth population and the attendant threats to national stability.
Youths (15-35 years) account for about 33% of the country`s population and represent about 63% of the economically active population of which 67% are unemployed.
Successive governments lack the zest and seriousness in attaching topmost priority to the youth problem.
The previous APC government had reduced the youths to garbage collectors.
The urban youths that comprise mainly of early school leavers and illiterate youths are mostly engaged in car wash to eke out daily sustenance.
Almost every available unoccupied piece of land in Freetown is utilized as a car wash center, but the centers were unregulated and improperly managed.
Upon assumption into governance, the SLPP government decided to modernize and standardize the profession, thereby constructing 10 car wash centers across the capital city Freetown.
The scheme is co-funded by the government of Sierra Leone and the Chinese embassy had paved the way for about 100 youths to be trained in modern car washing at the Uminate car wash center at Hill Station in Freetown.
The selection criteria for the training was largely based on political consideration.It was payback time for youths who have supported the SLPP party to power in the scarce opposition stronghold of Freetown.Non-party faithfulls, hitherto engaged in the profession were marginalized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
Mohamed Kamara who has been making a living as a car washer for the past decade at the Black Street stadium car park pitifully said he was excluded from the program simply because he is not a party sympathizer.
Kamara disclosed that pro-ruling party youths who were never engaged in car washing were selected for the training. In order to survive, Kamara said he is presently rendering laundering and water fetching to people in the community.
Kamara is one of the youths whose hopes of securing gainful employment have been watered down by the SLPP government.
Considering the massive youth unemployment facing Sierra Leone, the car wash scheme is like a drop in the ocean. To make matters worse, the scheme is bedeviled by logistical challenges and poor management.
Allocating a single car to a youth to wash is very chaotic.Even though there is a scheduled list on the wall depicting names of duty bearers in the morning and afternoon, the youths had hardly abide by the names on the list.
Anyone would emerge from anywhere and render their service at the center because there are no identity cards to ensure proper identification of beneficiaries.
When the project was launched in December 2019, lofty promises were made by the government to provide sustainable job earnings for the youths.
The price for washing a taxi is Le 15,000, private cars, Le25,000,Jeep Le30.000, tricycle Le 10. 000, motor bikes Le 10.000.
The proceeds from any wash are shared 40% and 60 % between the service provider and the Chairman of the Center respectively.
The respective Chairmen for the centers were appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
The initial commencement of the scheme has not shown signs of prospects for the beleaguered youths that have supported the SLPP government.
The colossal amount of Le two billion Leones was spent on the white elephant facilities.They are haphazardly managed in a rather unsustainable manner that would not salvage the problems of our youths.
Most of the facilities which were supposed to have modern equipment to aid the washing of cars in these centers are non –existent or their arrival has been delayed in most of the centers that are yet to be commissioned.
Youths who spoke to night watch on conditions of anonymity for fear of reprisal attacks says the government is yet to provide them with overall attires, rubber boots, safety caps and gloves to effectively carry on the exercise.
Moreover, the machine that is used to forcefully propel the water malfunctions 2-3 times before the completion of cleaning a single car.
A center as big as, the stadium car park, need not a single machine to aid the washing of cars in the area.
“Government must provide 5 machines for this center because it is the biggest of all the centers”, one of the car washers noted.
In its new direction manifesto, the SLPP castigated the APC regime for creating a tremor leading to a full blown youthquake situation with its attendant security and stability challenges.
As a result, the SLPP promised an integrated, coherent and holistic approach that would ameliorate the suffering of the youths in Sierra Leone.
As of writing, the youths engaged in the car wash scheme, has no medical and rent allowance.
At the end of December 2019 the youths were giving an insulting Le 200.000 as salary far below the minimum wage.
Youths engaged in the car wash are highly susceptible to sicknesses such as Pneumonia and tuberculosis because it is a waterborne profession.In the event, the youths succumb to such illnesses they would be at the mercy of destiny to either survive or perish. Suppose there is a fatal accident during work, the car washers are not covered by any accident insurance. Whenever their youthful period is exhausted there is no National Social Security cover to ensuring a dignified old age. Truth be told, politicians would never encourage their children and relatives to take up carwash jobs from any of the new refurbished car wash sites around town. The quest by the youths for a sustainable livelihood program is anchored on a desire to make poverty history in their lives and families. Therefore, it is wise and prudent for the government to adopt sustainable long term solutions towards addressing the plight of youths. Establishing industries that manufacture goods and render services alongside the provision for knowledge, skills transfer and value addition would go along way in providing solutions to youth unemployment.
As such, the car wash scheme needs a comprehensive and strategic review into a very sustainable approach towards salvaging the plight of our vulnerable young generation.If not, it is clear that these youths would revert to nefarious and mischievous activities.