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At about 2 pm on Tuesday June 1st, 2010, the city of Winnipeg, for the first time, gave a grant in the sum of $27,289.50 to the Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba (SALNAM), to help the community obtain and operate a Resource Centre. The grant covers the cost of rent for the first two years. SALNAM hopes to utilize the proposed Resource Centre as a vehicle for holistic community development initiatives.Winnipeg’s mayor, Mr. Sam Katz, had a short meeting, in his office, with SALNAM’s President, Mr. Allieu Sesay, the Vice President, Mr. Ken-Abu Kamara, and Secretary General, Mr. Abu Bakarr Kamara, when on behalf of the City of Winnipeg; he (the mayor) presented the cheque to SALNAM’s president.
In brief remarks, the Mayor commended SALNAM for their foresight in undertaking this historic and meaningful initiative; which has the potential, in the long run, to assist the Sierra Leonean community, to begin the process of taking personal/community responsibilities, for undertaking community based programs consistent with the needs of the community, in areas of socio-economic and cultural development projects in Winnipeg.
After receiving the cheque on behalf of SALNAM, SALNAM’s president, Mr. Allieu Sesay, thanked Mayor Katz for, once again, demonstrating that Winnipeg truly has a leader who cares about the needs of its people irrespective of their economic or political clout. Mr. Sesay added “a resource centre will assist our community members achieve a sense of self worth and identity in Winnipeg’s wider community by protecting their social and economic interests.
Mr. Ken-Abu Kamara, SALNAM’s vice president, emphasized the need of a resource centre to establish support services, and educational, literacy, cultural and recreational programs for families, youths at risk, seniors and other disadvantaged adults with the aim of fully integrating community members within Winnipeg’s multicultural mosaic.
The Secretary General, Mr. Abu Bakarr Kamara, adding to the views expressed by SALNAM’s president and vice president, noted that a significantly large numbers of our members are currently at the bottom of the economic and social ladder in Manitoba; a reality that has forced many into holding two or three jobs to assist them provide food for their families. He affirmed that “many of our members are still dreaming about the Canadian dream and that a community resource centre is one of the avenues SALNAM hopes to use to elevate our community closer to realizing that dream.”
The Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba (SALNAM), one of the earliest pioneers in the African community, and the Sierra Leonean community, a community with a very low profile within a community in Manitoba, are pleased and delighted to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to Mayor Katz and the city of Winnipeg for their generous financial support which helps our community to coming closer to realizing the Canadian dream particularly for our children yet unborn. Indeed, this is a momentous day for all Sierra Leoneans in Manitoba. |
