Three students from the College of Management located at 4 Mena street, Mabanta, in Makeni Bombali District in Sierra Leone have completed their three months internship with Bright Light Projects Sierra Leone (BLPSL).
All three students Sillah Brima Tarawalie, Musu Conteh and Alpha Tholley are taking Diploma in Community Development Studies at the College of Management.
The internship which lasted from January 17 to April 30, 2022 saw a healthy and professional relationship built between BLP and the College.
The students were nurtured with valuable support from BLP team in Makeni in the area of Program enhancement and development, understanding key issues affecting communities in the sectors of women and girl child empowerment.
Other areas the students were nurtured in include community stakeholder engagement, partner engagement, beneficiaries support in terms of field monitoring, liaison with other key stakeholders in the different chiefdom ( Bombali shebora, Gbanti, and Paki Massabong chiefdom) in Bombali district.
Speaking at a Dinner luncheon, BLP Sierra Leone Coordinator Mr Samuel Thoronka expressed satisfaction with the interns and praised them for their curiosity and consistency in understanding BLP’s methodology, and programs, urging them to ensure the relationships they have built at BLP does not go to waste.
Mr. Thoronka encouraged the students to further use the knowledge they have acquired to ensure they successfully complete their designated courses later this year.
BLP Sierra Leone advisory Board representative, Mr. Yayah Kargbo, also admonished and thanked the interns for their patience and dedication despite challenges from fuel shortage to heightening inflation.
He advised them to always exercise patience as they now know they have a professional Point of reference at BLP.
The interns appreciated BLP for the opportunity to have selected them from the long list of applicants for the internship, adding that the skills they have learned are eye openers to the realities of life.
BLP has a vision of supporting its beneficiaries to become self reliant to enable them to contribute positively to the development in their communities.
This is a unique model necessary for providing a sustainable value-adding approach that go a long way in uplifting the vulnerable population out of abject poverty, Mr Sillah Tawalie said on behalf of the interns.
“We came here with book knowledge and we are leaving now with practical knowledge ready to face the outside world with courage after our graduation.”
“BLP’s direct contact with beneficiaries provides a family support environment necessary for everyone to build hope for the future”, Tawalie said.
