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Reading: Former War Victim Share Graduation Photos, Social Media Users React.
Reading: Former War Victim Share Graduation Photos, Social Media Users React.

Former War Victim Share Graduation Photos, Social Media Users React.

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Sallu Kamuskay
By Sallu Kamuskay 300 Views 4 Min Read
4 Min Read

Abass Sesay was child during the Sierra Leone civil war, like many children, When he was 3 years old, he heard shot. His grand mum was killed and as for him, both body sides and right arm ware shot. He was saved but lost his arm.
During an interview, he was asked if he had grudge toward to the person who shot him and the person who caused war ?
“No, I haven’t. I can forgive them, however I can’t forget war. I have a symbol of the war on my right arm.”

Like many, Abass Sesay didn’t give up, after the war, he enrol in university to further his education. He was among those that recently graduated from the University of Sierra Leone. He shared a post that got the attention of social media users across the country reacting to the post

“A piece dedicated to all who feels Despair and Afraid.

Masters of War.

Bore under the darkness that awakes the shadows of the night laid a little boy on the arms of his mother who had loved him even before his heart was formed, hands with the tenderness that can lay all the chaos of the world to rest, her mind became a cathedral giving thanks and praises for such a beautiful boy. “Abass” she whispered my name to echo the land she loves.

Mama, so happy to see her little toddler tipping his toes, learning to say his first words, his mindset afree, it could journey beyond the edge of the earth. But then, the horror came. Masters of War, With their shackles mentality cuff in chains they came bringing horror at our doorsteps, set into display their art of chaos, they use booms and explosives to rain down colorful terror, you came killing dreams for what?

Diamond!

Well, here is the real cost of the “Blood Diamond Sierra Leone.” I find myself hiding in my own little space, alone and afraid to look at myself in the face, I lose a hand to this senseless war but Mama loose far worse; her Husband and mother were killed, as if it was not enough she was stripped of her confidence, Esteem devours, Mama was raped. No wonder she suffers this mood swing, for I can but only imagine how much pain she disguises so well just to give a little hope to her dimming star, once this beauty the moment she saw me breath.

Truth is, though I have been casualties in many battles even after the war, I was never angry nor afraid to become who I was meant to be. Like a nightmare they invaded my dreams and even though I slumber in my sleep I still have to hold on to these dreams for they told me change was coming and eventually it did.” He said

Social media users including celebrity took on social media sharing his post, popular musician and philanpropist Nasser Ayoub said,

“Super proud of this young man. I don’t know him -As a child, his arm was amputated by rebels during the SierraLeone civil war, Yesterday he graduated from university in #SierraLeone— Dont let nothing stop you !”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNur-WFDexU/?igshid=npcoq14dix11

 

 

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Sallu Kamuskay is a Sierra Leonean communication strategist, fixer, blogger, youth organiser, event manager, spokesperson, and public relations expert. His work has been regularly referenced and published by national and international media and public policy institutions. Sallu Kamuskay was a child during the brutal war in Sierra Leone. Growing up in the midst of conflict, Sallu witnessed unimaginable abuse of children and gross violations of human rights. The horrors he witnessed during the Civil War had a terrible impact on him at a very tender age. But despite the shock of the war, Sallu never lost hope. He started on a journey of recovery, studying, and working for a better future. At age 15, Sallu entered into the world of activism and advocacy. Sallu Kamuskay was the Vice President of the Young Leaders Organisation, a member of the National Youth Council. The Young Leaders is one of the oldest youth-led organisations in West Africa. The organisation was formed by a group of young leaders, and launched by the then Head of State/President of Sierra Leone. Sallu was part of the group of young leaders who participated in and contributed to the establishment of the National Youth Council. The Commonwealth supported the training for trainers programme with line ministries and youth stakeholders in which key, representatives of youth council, student union and civil society/private sector youth platforms were engaged and empowered in the effective engagement and inclusion of youth. Sallu is co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global multimedia and public relations firm based In Sierra Leone. Sallu has worked on various developmental and policy issues such as Poverty, Climate Change, Human rights, Child Rights, Education, Health, Gender Equality, Civic Engagement, Government policies, Information Communication Technology for Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and has also been contributing to various global events and advocacy campaigns. Sallu Kamuskay is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global Multimedia and Public Relations Firm based in Sierra Leone with the latest news and information, on top stories, business, politics, entertainment, and more. Sallu is working with a leading technology company in Africa, Techfrica, that has recently developed and launched a social media, messaging Supfrica with over 150,000 downloads on the Google play store in less than 4 days. He is the Adviser and Media coordinator for the App to give people the platform to connect and communicate to help shape their future with a very fast internet that allows users that live in deprived and hard-to-reach areas with poor internet facility to be able to communicate as it allows and stronger on 2 and 3 G network reception. Sallu has over 9 years of experience in youth engagement, inclusion, and coordination both at local and global levels, giving voice to young people and engaging young people to build a better world. He has served as coordinator for the Wave Alliance which brought together youth-led organisations who attended an international training in South Africa organized by the International Organization – Waves for Change. Sallu is working with the MLT, Waves For Change, and the Government to develop safe spaces for young people, with a view to contributing to the overall development goals of young people including health, as well as to community rebuilding. Sallu is currently the Programme Director for the Wave Alliance, which is a coalition of youth-led and community-based organisations that have successfully introduced evidence-based Surf Therapy programs to young people in communities, with a focus on mental health, peace building and sustainable development. Sallu is currently the focal point and face of Africa’s Faces Social media platform which is a global Social media platform that brings together people from across the world to share their moments, connect, share videos, and interact with friends giving more preference to excluded continents like Africa. Sallu Kamuskay has devoted his time to working for or contributing to a number of national and international organizations and companies, including the Techfrica Technology Company, United Nations, ECOWAS, European Union, Commonwealth Africa Initiatives. This work has led him to travel to a number of countries to contribute to global youth platforms. Sallu is the lead Coordinator for Peace Tour programme, an initiative supported by the European Union, Africa Union, ECOWAS focusing on uniting and empowering young people and local communities. Over the years, Sallu Kamuskay has been using his Techno phone to be able to tell stories, the phone he used to tell the story of Gbessay during Ebola who was admitted at one of the Ebola treatment centers after rumors that she had Ebola when the actual sickness was ulcer, she was almost abandoned at the treatment canter with no medication provided to her. She could have died. Sallu told the story via social media and was able to secure funding from the United Sierra Leone to buy her medication and advocated for her. She was later discharged and taken home, He did the same to a patient that died and was abandoned in the street, Sallu Kamuskay used his phone and shared the message across, the corps was later taken and buried. It could have been more disaster without his voice. The story of late America Stress 3-year-old daughter. The hero’s daughter was abandon after his father's death. He shared her sad story and was able to get a sister who has taken the child as her own and is currently providing her with educational support. The article of America Stress can be read on the link below http://ayvnewspaper.com/index.php/k2-categories/item/7350-america-stress-a-hero-to-recognize. Sallu Kamuskay feels the stories of Gbessay, America stress and that of many others need to be told. The media house we have cannot better tell these stories, they are better reporters than telling human interest stories. He created the Salone Messenger platform and brought together passionate storytellers to be able to tell these compelling stories.