Christian Kamara is the National General Secretary of Sierra Leone YMCA.
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Date of foundation of the YMCA: 1912
Full/Associate/Related Membership in the World Alliance of YMCAs: Associate
Full member of the World Alliance of YMCAs since: 1981
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The Young Men's Christian Association Sierra Leone had since 2002 being making contribution to the Peace Building and Education Process by embarking on Peace Education and Advocacy in three Regions of the country (Western, Eastern and Southern). The Relief and Rehabilitation Department with support from Horyzon - Switzerland conducted several workshops and training of trainers and peace motivators..
Agricultural inputs in the form of seed rice were given to Returnee Farmers in the Kori and Tikonko Chiefdom in the Southern Region.
We are also implementing Skills Training for Ex-combatants and Youths in Kenema, Eastern Region.
The following areas of study are being offered in the Skills Training Programme:
- Carpentry
- Tailoring and dress making
- Brick-laying
- Agriculture
Vocational Training in Freetown and Bo forms part of our Educational Programmes. Non-food items were given to Returnees after the war in the form of pots and pans. This programme was implemented in Taiama and Tikonko Chiefdoms in the Southern Region.
Evangelism and spiritual upliftment is our major task being a Christian Organisation and as such we do organise Bible Studies, Outreaches, revival etc.
Every year on the 26th December (Boxing Day) the Association do organize what is known in Sierra Leone as the YMCA Boxing Day Sports. This activity was first organised in 1915 and since then it has become a traditional event, which caters for National and International Athletics. We have also embarked on a Kindergarten school at Kissy, which caters for orphans in the Kissy environs. Our Youths have formed a national drama and gospel group, that helps in the dissemination of the peace message. Sponsored walk, outings, picnics, concerts are some of our fund raising programmes.
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To bring together Young People whether by age or by attitude or different traditions, race or colour into the World Wide Fellowship of the Young Men's Christian Association, through which they may grow as Christians participating in the life, worship and growth of the Church expressing their Christian Faith by word and deed.
During those days, he met people like the Late Mr. M.E.A. Davies who was one time National Chairman and contributed in the formation of three Branches namely: Freetown, Kissy and Cline Town. A building was eventually rented at N0. 4 Pultney Street in Freetown which housed the office of the Association.
A Commercial School was established with foreign aid and regular outings were organised as the years went by.
In 1978, the then National Chairman, the Late Mr. M.E.A. Davies made contacts with the German YMCA to help in putting the Sierra Leone YMCA on a sound pedestal. A Partnership was then created and this resulted in the advent of a Fraternal Secretary Mr. Erich Kotnik in January 1979 and the employment of a full time National General Secretary Mr. Eben Whenzle in March 1979.
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Number of local Associations: 21 branches
Number of total members and
participants (all over the country): 1,000
Men: 550
Women: 300
Under 30: 150.
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The Sierra Leone YMCA was founded by the Late Dr. I.C. Pratt in 1912. It started with few devoted Christians who met regularly for Bible Studies and Prayer Meetings. Their meetings took a rotational form ie from house to house of every member.
No one can clearly recount how they got the idea of a YMCA but one would envisage that a few of them must have heard, read or seen YMCA somewhere . The house meetings which started in 1912 eventually changed to a public one.
Meetings were conducted at the Freetown Community Centre, opposite Rokel Commercial Bank at Siaka Stevens Street where we now have the Reliance Insurance Trust Corporation.
The Group extended its programmes and activities and in 1915 the first Boxing Day Sports was organised at the then recreational grounds now National Stadium at Brookfields.
Before the 2nd World War, a building situated at the corner of Trelawney Street and Oxford Street in Freetown now Lamina Sankoh and Lightfoot Boston Streets respectively and opposite the Wesley Church housed the YMCA.
Regular meetings were conducted in that building and the Association also ran a canteen which became very famous for war stricken Sea Men, Members of the Navy and Armed Forces whilst in transit. Unfortunately as the years went by things took a different turn as the Association was no longer viable.
However, a young YMCA Professional by the name of Dr. Henshaw from the United Kingdom visited Sierra Leone to help with the Association's work. He even developed a Boys Section.
Much was not heard about the YMCA until 1976 when a member of the YMCA in the United States of America, Mr. Waldo Keck visited Sierra Leone and was concerned with the deplorable state of the Association.
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Mr Christian Kamara
National General Secretary
National Council of Sierra Leone YMCA
32 Fort Street
P O Box 243
Freetown
SIERRA LEONE
Tel: 232 - 22 - 223608 Telex: 3210 booth sl
Fax: 232 - 22 - 224439/228422/229278
Email: sierraleone(at)africaymca.org
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