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Reading: Meet George Shadrack Kamanda Sierra Leonean Oxford University Student Who Wrote The Book On Young People Becoming Better And Active Citizens In Society
Reading: Meet George Shadrack Kamanda Sierra Leonean Oxford University Student Who Wrote The Book On Young People Becoming Better And Active Citizens In Society

Meet George Shadrack Kamanda Sierra Leonean Oxford University Student Who Wrote The Book On Young People Becoming Better And Active Citizens In Society

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Sallu Kamuskay
By Sallu Kamuskay 308 Views 8 Min Read
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‘‘Wherever you are, whatever you are doing with honesty, and good faith, it is common sense to know that when you thrive at what you do, Sierra Leone thrives as a nation.’’ George Shadrack Kamanda

Born in Freetown,

Meet George Shadrack Kamanda is a Sierra Leonean civic educator, advocate for good governance, a law student, diplomat-in-training, and an eloquent public speaker. George is also a proven servant-leader with a keen understanding of teamwork and cooperative learning.

Speaking during the launch of the necessity firm at the Africell American Corner in Sierra Leone

 George Shadrack Kamanda attended the St Phillips Primary School, where he sat to the National Primary School Examination (NPSE). He attended both the Prince of Wales Junior Secondary School and John F. Kennedy International Secondary School (JFK), where he sat to his Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). George did his senior secondary school education at the Prince of Wales Senior Secondary School where he sat to his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2011. He travelled to the United States in 2012 to continue his education and reunite with his mother in Philadelphia.

Pictured in front of his Alma Meter, Prince of Wales

George Shadrack Kamanda holds an associate degree from the Delaware County Community College, BA in Political Science and International relations from Saint Joseph’s University. He was also awarded the Young Law Alumni Award in 2018 at Saint Joseph’s University—an award that came with a financial stipend to attend law school. He is a third-year law student at Case Western Reserve University (on leave), and a current student at the University of Oxford for the 2021 school year reading for a master’s degree in Diplomacy. George also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Global Human Rights from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Pictured during Oxford University matriculation

During his school days in Sierra Leone, George Shadrack Kamanda held several positions in the school including Deputy Senior Prefect for the Class of 2011 at the Prince of Wales Secondary School and participated in debates, and won many quiz competitions. While in school, George was active in advocacy and activism. He was part of child-led organizations and human rights including the Campaign for Peace and Non-Violence, Children’s Forum Network, Youth for Human Right International, and many others. Holistically, George believes that all of these platforms gave him a sense of responsibility, leadership skills and an eye for public service and advocacy.

Pictured With Group Of Students At Prince Of Wales Secondary School

In the USA, he has had a lot of professional and internship experiences including speaking and reading his poem at the Lithuanian Mission to the European Union in Brussels, during his diplomatic traineeship at the European Parliament, and a member at the Philadelphia Hub of the Global Shapers—a World Economic Forum. Similarly, George also worked at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia District Attorney Office. He is a current global ethical leader and fellow of the prestigious global Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE).  George has also presented research at the United Nations in New York, launched his organization’s vision at Njala University in Bo, Sierra Leone and has served as a panelist and contributor on several college and university forums. George is a Christian and an avid follower and believer in Jesus Christ.

Speaking As A Panelist At Case Western Reserve University Annual Event To Commemorate The International Human Right Day In February, 2018.

 In his almost nine years of living in the US, George has remained connected with his country and had always wanted to help people back home. He is ever cautious about politics and progress in Sierra Leone. He hopes to render his expertise and experiences to public service and governance in Sierra Leone one day. George was concerned that governments in previous decades have failed to connect and work with the masses, and he now worries about the growing inequality gap in our society. His national development examination led him to establish the Necessity Firm, aimed at seeing a just and fairer society, and a citizenship firm seeking to shape and empower “whole citizens” who are objective on matters of nation-building regardless of their social, political, or tribal affiliations. He envisions a society where government and citizens will run on objectivity and accountable governance, empowering young people to participate in national development and nation-building.

With Supporters And Members Of The Necessity Firm At The Launch In June 2019

George published his third book about citizenship and governance in Sierra Leone in October 2020. His book, Citizenship Remained: The case for a Responsible Whole Citizenry in Sierra Leone, makes a common good case for citizens’ empowerment and an endorsement for inclusive and progressive governance. In his book, George invites young people to feel engaged in nation-building regardless of their political, social, or tribal affiliations. The idea of responsible citizens espouses in the book is a unique and holistic concept geared towards helping Sierra Leoneans become an objective participant in nation-building and invites them to discharge their rights and responsibilities in society diligently. However, George warns that his book is not about SLPP, APC, or any political party, what messages or policies they should convey. He points out that his book is about Sierra Leone and the governance issues impeding Sierra Leone’s inclusive and sustainable development.

Pictured with his new book, Citizenship Reimagined during Oxford University Matriculation Day in October 2020

George wants to see a society where citizens see themselves as students of the country. That way, he envisions that as students, young people will never loose the passion nor the patience to learn and engage with the country’s hopes and challenges in all spheres of human endeavors. He imagines Sierra Leone as a nation without citizen apathy or citizens’ lack of interest, and where civic education is made an accessible reality to all.

 

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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.