Our Achievements in 2008
Communicating the result of our achievement is a key weapon in building public confidence and influencing public opinion towards a positive change. Our achievement can be categorized in four different areas namely:
1. Organizational management
In the first place, a research was carried out among 20 members of the Tilburg sister Sierra Leone Union to gather knowledge about ways to beef up the capacity of the SLCU and to strengthen its public image. The outcome of this report is being used to transform SLCU into a development oriented organization. One important recommendation in this respect is the designing of a website (www.slcu.nl),making of folder and preparation of quarterly reports. Undertaking the following, has helped in serving as an instrument to communicate our plans and activities to members, local, semi and government institutions in the Netherlands and at home.
Secondly, the SLCU constitution was reviewed. The constitution has proved to be flexible, yet bringing sanity, orderliness and discipline within the SLCU membership. The constitution gives both the executive and the general membership the mandate to enforce the rule of law. To achieve this result, an average of four constitutional workshops was organized and hosted by different organizations in their respective cities. All delegates were given the opportunity during these workshops to present their ideas and opinions. Sometimes, voting was conducted to change, add or remove certain articles in the constitution .Where there was a tie, the President was asked to use his veto power to ensure an agreement. In the end, a draft constitution was compiled and all delegates were asked to thoroughly discuss the content with their members and then present feedback to the Secretariat on the 29th February, 2008. No feedbacks were presented. Therefore, organizations signed and endorsed the document.
Thirdly, the setting up of an Advisory Council consisting of Sierra Leonean elders with talents and wealth of experience were selected to advise the executive on strategic issues.
Lastly, the SLCU introduced the Central Activity Agenda (CAA). The introduction of the CAA means that, the dates, places and addresses of all social and cultural activities of the sister unions and their members in the country shall be registered, updated and published on our website. This can be used by the Social or Public Relations Officers of the different unions in planning the dates of their activities. This has solved the consistent problems facing some sister unions and their members every year, in planning and coordinating their annual activities with other sister unions in the country. In most cases, the dates of marriages, birthday parties or annual shows do coincide with parties and shows of other unions around. The effect of this is some times devastating especially for unions, hoping to attract a larger number of Sierra Leonean public to generate money needed to sustain their programs. The CAA guarantees a central coordination of all Sierra Leonean activitie
2. Developmental Programs
Sierra Leone, despite its vast mineral resources has today been classified as one of the poorest countries in the world. Internal, regional and macro-economic under-development is worsening the situation, leaving untold human sufferings in the country after the 10 year civil war. A political system with good governance brings hope and stability. Our plan is to design and facilitate a development plan and to mobilize support for our country.
To achieve this, a Development Committee consisting of members from all organizations was set up to brainstorm on a development project for Sierra Leone. The committee voted to construct a Vocational School this year in Port Loko District. Recently, a research has been carried out in Lungi /Port Loko district to gather data on our plans to design and construct a vocational school in the area.
The SLCU organized a charity in Rotterdam to call on God to guide the last presidential and parliamentary elections held in Sierra Leone. Visitors at this gathering were asked to donate money for the purchase of 100 bags of rice for the amputees in Grafton. Another appeal recently launched by the SLCU to our Muslim brothers and sisters to donate their zakaat to the amputees in Grafton, provided another 100 bags of rice for the amputees.
Last year, a container loaded with 450 guitars was shipped to Sierra Leone to support the music industry in the country.
3. Social program
In 2008., the SLCU organized a successful Independent Show, Outing and an Award Night in Breda. reaching out to more than 1000 Sierra Leoneans and our Dutch counterparts.
4. Financial Progress
And lastly, it made an increase in budget from Euros 6000 in 2006 to 9000 in 2008, a profit of 3000 euro was made through our social activities.
The SLCU wants to take this opportunity to thank every one who directly or indirectly is involved in building the foundation of this noble organisation.
- Rice for the amputees in Grafton
- A container loaded with 450 guitars was shipped to Sierra Leone
- SLCU general meeting in Breda
- Signing the constitution by the SLCU president
Click here for SLCU 2007 achievements.