27 March, 2008

Raymond Bai Kamara, Freetown

New York Response at the door step of Sierra Leoneans

A locally based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), New York Response-Sierra Leone is established to help Sierra Leoneans build their capacity in the educational career. Sierra Leonean born Mr. Morlai M. Sesay is the chief Executive Officer and founder of the organization. He explained to Sierra Express what provoked the necessity to establish the organization.

“My visit to Sierra Leone before and after the war gave me the urge and vision to set an organization for the poor, needy and the under developed.”

He was speaking to our reporter in an interview at his10 Walpole Street Office in Freetown. He said the mandates of New York Response-Sierra Leone are mostly focusing on the life and future of Sierra Leoneans that are less fortunate to revive their educational standards and determined institutions. Mr. Sesay said their motto is focused on “Each one help one” (to make a difference).

He said they have been donating free condoms in New York (USA) and Sierra Leone and they are well established and registered as a local NGO based in Sierra Leone.

Mr. Sesay said as an institution they are distributing condoms as free gifts to the general public to sense the awareness that HIV/AIDS is real and should be protected under the courtesy of the New York Response. He said they as an organization know it well that condom use can protect HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Condom distribution is not the main activity of the New York Response.  Registering it as a non profit making and charitable organization that is working in partnership with other organizations, the organization is also donating learning materials to schools in some remote parts of the country. He said they are mostly focused on countries that are under developed in Africa for which Sierra Leone and the Gambia are the current focus points.

Since the establishment of the organization in New York in 2005, it has helped schools in Sierra Leone with the donation of school learning materials, used clothes and medical equipment to the CARE primary school based in Makeni, a school established for the amputees.  Among the donated items were text books and other accessories including HIV/AIDS educative materials.

Mr. Sesay noted that his organization is working in tandem with schools in the US so that students in Africa could be chanced to gain inter-links with those in the US in terms of financial and material support.

I shed tears during my previous visit to Sierra Leone, seeing little children in the streets that were supposed to be going to school selling water and other markets for their survival, the CEO noted, adding that his compassion as a patriot is to support these kinds of children across West Africa.

“One good testimony about the New York Response is that it is getting more support from the Americans owing to their trust in this organization,” said Mr. Sesay.

Meanwhile, the organization is open to the general public.  For administration or full registration contact the secretariat at 10 Walpole Street or call Mr. Mohamed Bobson Bangura on 076-822-295.

The Principal for the College of Tourism Hotel and Travel, Mr. Gabriel L. Kamara, is the Director of Operations for New York Response-Sierra Leone. He told Sierra Express that he being a patriot will ensure his full commitment to establish the common good for every Sierra Leonean. Mr. Kamara said students are welcome into the fold of the organization. He said the entry requirement has no age limitation but has a common goal which is to help develop the under privileged and the vulnerable in society. Mr. Kamara further said they have set up a team of parent body to liaise with their sponsors and founder in the US that they too can play their own small role in society.

Mr. Kamara maintained that as NGO they pair the advocacy to disseminate information related the welfare of the organization. He added that the CEO/Founder is currently about to depart to New York to arrange funds for the organization. He said there are close ties between their organization and the Ministry of Education in a bid to work in tandem for the actualization of dreams to make Sierra Leone a wealthy nation of knowledge. Mr. Kamara said at present there are medical facilities and other items that Magburaka Hospital is set to benefit from very soon.

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