360 Solutions Initiative, a youth-led organisation committed to sustainability and environmental protection, has engaged community stakeholders at the White House in Grafton to discuss its upcoming tree-planting project.
The initiative, founded by young, innovative university graduates from diverse career backgrounds, aims to contribute to national development by creating jobs rather than relying on government employment. The organisation focuses on recycling, reforestation, and human capacity building.
Elijah Edwin, Project Coordinator of 360 Solutions Initiative, chaired the engagement and outlined the purpose of the meeting. He emphasised the organisation’s commitment to working with the Grafton community to address environmental concerns.
Delivering the keynote address, Alusine H. Bangura, Chief Operating Officer of 360 Solutions Initiative, underscored the initiative's significance. He stated that Grafton has been identified as a primary location for the tree planting project, and the meeting was aimed at raising awareness and laying the groundwork for its implementation.
“This project will create numerous opportunities for young people. I encourage everyone to seize this opportunity and make the most of it,” Bangura said. He also commended the community’s participation and pledged his support, particularly to the Polio Challenge Association, which will lead in the project’s implementation.
Regarding the initiative's environmental importance, Project Coordinator Mohamed Conteh highlighted the adverse effects of deforestation and improper waste management. He stressed that the organisation’s work extends beyond reforestation and recycling to human capacity building.
“The only way to preserve our environment is through proper waste management and tree planting, our primary focus,” Conteh stated. He called on the community to embrace the project and actively participate in its implementation.
Sulaiman Barrie, founder of Sierra Ecobrick, provided a brief history of his organisation and its alignment with the 360 Solutions Initiative’s mandate. He introduced innovative solutions, such as using palm kernel waste to produce cooking fuel as an alternative to cutting down trees for charcoal production.
Another 360 Solutions Initiative project coordinator, Sallieu Barba Kamara, who specializes in agriculture, highlighted the ecological consequences of deforestation. “If we cut down all the trees, our existence as humans will be at risk because trees are essential for oxygen supply. We must plant trees and prioritise economic tree planting,” Kamara emphasised.
Community stakeholders and representatives from the Polio Challenge Association, including Secretary General Ibrahim S. Dumbuya, Sylvanus Bundu Bangura, Chairman Joseph I. Sesay, John Alusine Kamara, and Paul A. Tarawally, expressed their appreciation for the initiative. They welcomed the organisation’s decision to include their association and the Grafton community in the forthcoming project and pledged their full support.
Joel Foday Dumbuya SLENA Correspondent
Contact: 088296029 / 075211450
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