Dear Reader! Please allow me to tell you my story.
I thankfully secured a five year scholarship from the Catholic Diocese of Makeni and travelled to Italy in 1993. During this period, there was a serious and bloody civil war in my country, Sierra Leone. The war started in 1991, it placed the entire country in a state of confusion and panic. Though I was not personally or physically affected by the war, emotionally I was as I had left my poor family, friends, and my community in Koinadugu District. I continually carried the terrible emotions of the war.
This then became a motivation for me, not only to study and obtain my Master’s degree in Sociology of Development but also to think of how best I could help my people and community once the war ended. With this in mind, I immediately started narrating my story to Italian friends, including a special person, Maria Antonella Pelliccia who eventually became my wife after my studies. I started soliciting funds to rebuild the destroyed schools and health facilities in my Village Yagala and the immediate environs. I was quickly able to mobilize friends in Italy and formed an association called Microcammino 2000. We started to secure funding and other material support to undertake various small projects. Subsequently, we built nine Primary Schools and one Secondary school, three health centers, over thirty water wells in various parts of Koinadugu and Falaba Districts. Additionally, we built a boarding home for 90 blind children, gave tens of national and international scholarships, facilitated the surgical operations of over 2000 needy patients, supplied tools, seedlings and small ruminants to farmers, etc.
Eventually, I was able to earn the trust of sponsors and beneficiaries which motivated the communities to ask me to run as Chairman of Koinadugu District Council in 2008 which I won with over 83% of the votes, a task I successfully performed in four years. After which I was appointed Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. Subsequently as Minister of Trade and Industry and finally as Minister of Works and Public Assets in the Republic of Sierra Leone.
I retired
from active public life. However, I want to continue my humanitarian work which has always been my passion and desire. Obviously, as one who aspires to be a good citizen, respecting the rule of law and promoting the common good, I believe that I should never leave my people, my communities, and my world to others…
In that regard, I want to continue to seek support to improve the lives of my people and communities in Koinadugu/Falaba, which are the most deprived communities in terms of development in the Country.
The intervention will range from the promotion of education to health care, child care, food security, women’s empowerment, culture and tourism, environmental protection, and communities awareness. Kindly join us in our journey of giving hope to people and communities. For your generosity can improve the condition of others.
Thank you for your kind attention.
About Us
Little Steps is a non-profit organization established to drive sustainable socio-economic development in Koinadugu and Falaba Districts of Sierra Leone. We work to empower communities, foster social cohesion, and create a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Mission
We envision a future where social cohesion is the driving force behind sustainable socio-economic and political development for all, regardless of religion, gender, social background, or economic status.
Vision
Little Steps is a leading voice for citizen empowerment in rural areas. We promote community solidarity and collaboration to achieve shared aspirations and access wider support.
