By Alie Turay
YARDEPBAdams Kamara, Executive Director of Youth Arise for Rural Development, Empowerment and Peace Building (YARDEPB) has commended the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) for their role in nation building.
He made this disclosure during the launching of YARDEPB’s $ US 56,740 project which was funded by OSIWA.
The project will focus on campaigning against domestic violence, rural development, empowerment and Peace Building. The project will cover the Waterloo, Tombo and Newton areas in the Western Rural communities and will be implemented in the next fifteen months.
Adams Kamara also stated that YARDEPB is willing to expand to other communities but they are limited with funds and called on OSIWA and other agencies for more support. He further stated that YARDEPB has been carrying out activities since its creation on January 5th 2011 and has been making steady progress and achievements in its peace building approach.
Launching the project, Commissioner Yeama Thompson called on the community to take advantage of YARDEPB by reporting all Sexual and domestic violence cases and any form of discrimination to YARDEPB office in Waterloo and called on the Sierra Leone Police to act speedily in order to promote equal rights for all.
Madam Kadia Kamara from the Tombo community thanked YARDEPB for their initiative in bringing such project to their community as many people suffer in silence with domestic violence but they don’t have anyone to talk to but she believes with YARDEPB operating in their community many will now come forward to name and shame the perpetrators of all forms of violence and discrimination in their community.
However, the Sierra Leone Police has pledged its commitment to protect the rights of all persons without favour or discrimination and they will make sure YARDEPB project be a success in all the operational areas.
