By: George Shadrack Kamanda
Our nation deserves governments as good as its citizens—and citizens as good as their governments. Responsible citizenship and Ethical leadership will get us there. This is the mission of the Everyday Citizen campaign.
My pitch was straightforward and simple.
“His Excellency, my name is George Shadrack Kamanda, one of the legal experts/advisers at the Mission here in New York. Humbled to have this moment, sir, and I am grateful and privileged to present you with a copy of my book, Citizenship Reimagined.”
The above was followed by a firm gentleman’s handshake with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio. Having the singular honor to a one-on-one conversation with the father of the nation will remain itched in my mind for a lifetime. During my meeting with His Excellency, I presented a signed copy of my book, “Citizenship Reimagined: A Case for Responsible Whole Citizenry in Sierra Leone.” I was both surprised and deeply humbled when His Excellency said, “Mr. Kamanda, I’ve read your book and liked the ideas and proposals put forward to help advance effective citizenship in Sierra Leone.” His Excellency’s recognition of my book was truly humbling.
His Excellency’s words still leave me star-struck. It’s incredible to think about my journey from humble beginnings in Freetown to representing my country at the UN Security Council as one of the legal experts and advisers at the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the UN, after the country’s fifty-three years absence from the only UN lawmaking body.
The transformative impact of faith, consistency, and determination has been vividly revealed throughout my decade-long experience as a civic educator. Beginning with my humbled involvement in advocacy through the Children’s Forum Network (CFN), I have now evolved into a founder and leader of a citizenship firm dedicated to promoting responsible and ethical citizenship in Sierra Leone.
Our discussion also delved into the significance of civics, citizenship, and the role of young people in constructing a stronger, more engaged nation. President Bio’s vision for a better Sierra Leone has fortified my commitment to eradicating citizen apathy and promoting proactive and progressive citizenship. Despite the numerous challenges that persist, the responsibility lies on all of us—citizens and leaders—to build a nation we are all proud of in every respect.
President Bio’s words of affirmation and recognition of my work have ignited my passion regarding what we can achieve together as a nation. His profound awareness and understanding of the issues, challenges, and the necessary work ahead, as well as the ongoing efforts, were not just evident, but also deeply valued. I am motivated and committed to continuing my advocacy for active citizenship and good governance for a thriving and sustainable nation.
EVERYDAY CITIZENSHIP IN SIERRA LEONE
Four months ago, I launched the “Everyday Citizen” newsletter as part of the Everyday Citizen campaign. The goal is to inspire, educate, and empower Sierra Leonean citizens, particularly the youth, to eliminate citizen apathy in one generation. In essence, the Everyday Citizen Campaign aims to inspire and empower Sierra Leoneans, with the four Cs of civic engagement: civic knowledge, values, rights, and responsibilities. These four Cs are our campaign’s foundation, underpinning responsible citizenship and active participation in nation-building.
Some thoughts to this effect.
We need to adopt a mindset that goes beyond just legal status and encourages us to be proactive, forward-thinking, and actively involved in our communities on a daily basis. This mindset is crucial for creating a country where responsible citizenship is in line with good governance and ethical leadership. It allows citizens to participate in major government projects while also providing them with the opportunity to support and constructively criticize government’s actions and inactions. For example, citizens can contribute to the development of human capital through involvement in educational programs, promote economic diversity by supporting local businesses, participate in community projects to aid in infrastructure and agriculture development, promote digital literacy to encourage technology and innovation, and ensure accountable leadership for sustainable governance. With a stronger sense of citizenship, we can help advance President Bio’s “Big Five Agenda.”
Through the Everyday Citizen campaign, our goal is to create a Sierra Leone where all citizens, regardless of their social, tribal, regional, or political affiliations, actively participate in shaping the future of our country. I invite every Sierra Leonean to join us in this journey to build a better and more livable Sierra Leone for all.
In the next iteration of the Everyday Citizen newsletter, I will share tangible insights and recommendations on the ongoing plans for a national civic education policy, drawing from my extensive and practical experience studying civics and citizenship.
#Civics #SierraLeone #Citizenship #EverydayCitizen #Responsibilities #Rights
