AYV News, September 4, 2023
The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has informed young people in Namibia that they should see themselves as leaders of today and not tomorrow.
She delivered a keynote address at the official launch of the BeFree Youth Camp in Windhoek, Namabia where she encouraged the young people to take advantage of the opportunities they have now and not the other way round.
First Lady Dr. Bio encouraged the youth to prepare themselves to break free from constraints that hold them back and embrace a commitment to excel in all areas of life.
She said: “Whatever it could be, you must not involve in alcohol or substance abuse, you need to free yourselves from all forms of abuses in order for you to have a better life”.
She further encouraged the young people to participate in opportunities that would prepare them for leadership positions.
“We are here because of our married men who became presidents, but when young girls come to me and say, ‘First Lady, I just want to be just like you; I want to become a First Lady’, I tell them, ‘no, you must want to be the president’.
“We must build on the foundation of democracy by lifting those voices that have gone unheard, particularly those of women and girls, people living on the margins of society, or those vulnerable to abuse, by exercising our right to disagree and dissent.”
The First Lady reminded the youthful audience that they are the keepers and builders of their lives and future.
She urged them to protect the legacies established by the First Lady of Namibia and promising to replicate the same ideas in Sierra Leone in different forms but with the same concepts.
She commended the First Lady of Namibia for such a loudable idea and appealed to the youth to make use of such a big platform to develop their talents and realise their dreams.
Giving a background of the campus, the Founder and Chairperson of One Economy, Foundation, Her Excellency the First Lady of Namabia Madam Monica Geingos explained that the youth campus was established in order to address a cluster of issues the Namibian youth are faced with.
The campus aimed to serve young people aged 13 to 30 years, providing psychosocial support and guidance on the legal and criminal justice systems regarding gender-based violence.
The campus will be providing academic support, entrepreneurial skills, programming and skills development, among others.
The First Lady revealed that the Campus will provide a STEM lab that will help youth involved in sexual base violence.
Madam Gingob concluded that the campus will help provide a safe and non-judgmental space for youth to facilitate their development and education in sexual and reproductive health.
Statement of appreciation and commitment was made by Her Excellency Mrs. Ana Dias Lourenco First Lady of the Republic of Angola.
