By Hassan I. Conteh, Africa 24

A leading campaigner on youth social affairs in Makeni, Mrs Beatrice Koroma, at a conference in Freetown, advised young people to use the internet in order to create opportunities for themselves.

“How can you use your personal growth minute? You can use a minute of your time on the internet (YouTube, for example ) to learn and how to improve your business skills and how you could market your products or learn out graphic design courses,” she said.

As young people, she added, “change your mindset, ask what problem can be solved in society,” Koroma said.

The youth campaigner has an organization in Makeni where she lives, thus advocating for youth and less privileged people.

“We should be voice for the voiceless,” she remarked while addressing a group of youth at Hamilton in Freetown.

Mrs Koroma told the youth attendees that “local problem needs local solutions,” adding that “we need to create change in our society.”

She encouraged young people to start the fire themselves, meaning they should bring out “fresh thinking” to solve societal problems.

“Your idea could be a service of benefits to others, the plastic you see around – what can you do with it.

She meant that what can someone do, for example, with it, that is, [plastic waste] to make out something new from it or how to help tackle its spread from the oceans to save up our marine fish and species from dying.

“Go start the fire; what can you do?” she asked.

“It is for a better Salone, don’t just wait for NGOs and CBOs,” the advocate said.

Mrs Koroma said the focus to help one’s country advance especially Sierra Leone lies on what she describes as country’s growth minute which can make one to be regarded a “transformer,” she said.

Light up your community, said Koroma.

She told young people to become members of the elites [family] but not to be seen as members of the masses.

On the phrase be as elites, she meant that young people should admire matured people who have achieved greatly in society.

Adding that young people should be ambassadors of change in society.

Koroma advised every young person to prepare themselves with skills learning before an opportunity knocks on them.

“Prepare yourself well before the opportunity arrives,” she said.