PREPORT ON SIERRA LEONE NATIONALS ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA (SALNAM) STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS

DATE 16 November 2024 TIME: 12:00p m -2 :00pm

LOCATION: 1200 Portage Ave Winnipeg Manitoba.

Introduction and Meeting Overview

The strategic meeting conducted by the SALNAM executive began with a brief introduction led by Mr. A. Bah, who presented a cross-section of the executive members. This was followed by an introduction of community members. Mr. Bah then presented findings from a survey he had distributed to the community, noting that twenty individuals participated. He emphasized that the data collected reflected the views of the community members.

Background and Purpose of SALNAM

Mr. Bah provided an overview of the organization, describing it as a nonprofit entity established to foster unity, cultural engagement, inclusion, and collaboration within the Sierra Leonean community in Manitoba. He further explained that the organization’s vision is rooted in a transformative journey, focusing on evolving organizational needs, growth, and development. The five-year strategic plan aims to:

• Foster transparency.
• Ensure accountability.
• Restore community trust in the organization.
• Promote developmental initiatives for the community’s betterment.

Survey Findings presentations

Demographics:

Mr. Bah shared that:

• 80% of respondents have been part of the community for over 15 years.
• 13% have stayed for 5–10 years.
• 7% have been members for more than 25 years.
• 7% have been part of the community for 1–5 years.

Community Activeness:

Survey results indicated an equal number of participants confirmed they had been both active and satisfied with cultural events and activities over the past five years.

Valued Projects and Activities

According to Mr. Bah, the following projects and activities were identified as most valuable by community members:

• Youth leadership training.
• Representation of SALNAM at other community events.
• Visits to community members.
• Awards and honors celebrations.
• Seniors’ events.
• Support for subgroups and unity-building initiatives.
• Social cohesion efforts.

Challenges and Gaps

The survey revealed key challenges faced by the organization:

• 63% cited poor community participation.
• 13% mentioned lack of funding.
• 13% felt the current executive needs to do more.
• 13% expressed dissatisfaction with the past executive’s management.

Priorities for the Next Five Years

Participants prioritized the following events for the next five years:

• Representation at community events (41.2%).
• Fundraising events (29.4%).
• Sporting events (29.4%).
• Folklorama and cultural performances (23.5%).
• Skills training and youth empowerment (17.6% each).
• Community outreach activities (17.6%).
• Membership dues payment (11.8%).

Respondents also highlighted the need for initiatives in mental health, youth leadership development, advocacy, cultural preservation, and fostering stronger ties with local Manitoba institutions.

Volunteer Commitment

The survey indicated varying levels of commitment to organizational activities:

• 31% were willing to volunteer during events.
• 19% expressed willingness to help with projects.
• 19% planned to attend organizational programs.
• 19% were willing to attend meetings.
• 13% showed interest in supporting fundraising and proposal writing.

Address by the SALNAM President

The SALNAM president encouraged members to focus on what he called the “Four WEs”:

1. We need to participate.
2. We need to donate.
3. We need to build.
4. We need to leave a legacy.

He urged members to take ownership of the organization and invest in building physical infrastructure for future generations. Community members appreciated the executive’s efforts and called for more events to promote engagement and inclusivity.

Strategic Planning Session

Facilitator’s Guidance:

Mr. John Gaye, the lead facilitator, outlined the team’s objectives within the stipulated timeframe. He emphasized that the mission and vision statements were foundational to the strategic plan. While the president clarified that changing the mission statement required a constitutional process, the facilitator recommended revising the vision statement.

SWOT Analysis:

Mr. Gaye introduced a SWOT analysis to assess the executive’s performance and the organization’s strategic position:

·         Strengths:

1. Community solidarity.
   1. A large population base.
   1. Diverse educational backgrounds.
   1. Cultural diversity.
   1. Favorable demographics.
   1. Religious tolerance.
   1. Talented community members.
   1. Welcoming spirit.
   1. Determination and dedication.
   1. Conflict mediation.

·         Weaknesses:

1. Lack of participation.
   1. Weak solidarity.
   1. Internal politics.
   1. Tribalism.
   1. Lack of dedication.
   1. Personal grievances.
   1. Lack of engagement.
   1. Insufficient funding.
   1. Lack of mutual support.
   1. Internal competition.

·         Opportunities:

1. Favorable political environment.
   1. Strong executive leadership.
   1. Funding opportunities.
   1. Infrastructure acquisition.
   1. Cultural diversity.
   1. Business opportunities.
   1. Participation in Folklorama.
   1. Large population.

·         Threats:

1. Internal competition and conflict.
   1. Limited time resources.
   1. Competition from other communities.
   1. Low volunteer turnout.
   1. Poor business engagement.
   1. Rapid technological changes.
   1. Loss of cultural identity.

Recommendations and Way Forward

The facilitator provided guidance on the next stages of the strategic planning process. The event concluded with community members expressing satisfaction and pledging their support to future initiatives.

Sponsor By Assiniboine Credit Union (ACU)

SALNAM Dancers at the 2024 U of W International Cultural Day

Dear Community members,

Happy Canada Day!

As you may know or expect, due to poor weather conditions that make it unsuitable for group outside activities and fun gatherings, we are left with little choice but to sadly announce that we are cancelling our planned celebrations of Canada Day that is planned to take place this afternoon between 1 p.m and 8: p.m.

As our plans for food was not contingent on the weather forecast situation, we are kindly asking community members to come and pick up some food at our vice president residence at 83 Prevette Street. As executive members, we will be converging there at least to socialize with one another and have something at least to celebrate on this special day.

We are inviting you to join us.  

See you there this afternoon.

Please come and join us there!

Become Future Impactful Community Leaders

Amadu Sidi Bah, Winnipeg, Canada. March 22, 2024.

Training young leaders to assume the mantle of strong, managerial, inclusive and transformational leadership in any company or organization has never been more urgent in a world in which finding good future leaders not only becomes a challenge but a distant possibility.

In a bid to overcome this challenge, while having in mind the present and future needs for good leaders in our community, SALNAM took a bold step to launch the special future young leaders’ program. This program is designed to train and empower a group of young Sierra Leonean who will ultimately form a class of trained and empowered future leaders that would be well-equipped to steer the affairs of the community when called upon to do in the nearest future. In the words of the president, Mr Mo Koroma “these youths are our fine future leaders who can step in our shoes when we retire and at a time we would need them most to continue building upon the foundation of successes from my administration and the previous ones and help grow the community. Preparing our leaders of tomorrow is a strategic move to avoid leadership failures in the future”

To achieve this important aim and vision, SALNAM just concluded a six-week intensive and hands-on training that targeted a number of youths on various important topics of leadership. The training is among a number of planned activities to instill and diffuse leadership values and principles in the participants. The project encompasses other related pos- training activities that involve applying the skills learnt in practical situations and to be involved in upcoming community events with a youth-focus.

In order to exposing the participant to the best possible exposure in leadership training, SALNAM recruited a renowned expert, a well-established leadership mentor and professional versed in the discipline of leadership theory and practice- Phyllis Reid-Jarvis, Executive Coach from the Ultimate Potentials firm. Ultimate Potentials is a renowned leadership training institute that has built a strong standing for providing leadership training to many outstanding institutions in and outside Manitoba for a considerable number of years. The firm produced a workbook for each participant that incorporated the state of art knowledge and tools on what it takes to be inclusive and transformative leaders now and in future.
Participants from the training sessions expressed their delight for participating in a first program of its kind and learnt foundational concepts related to topics including but not limited to:

· Self-leadership

· Leading social initiative

· Leading sustainability and environmental issues

· Leading a psychologically safe system of work

· Leading collaboration and teambuilding

· Leading with technical skills aligned with inter-human responsibilities

The component of the training workshop started in February and ended on March 16, 2024.

Applying post training skills, knowledge and abilities is a process. And with this in mind, there are already plans for post-training initiatives intended to ground participant with solid skills on and ongoing basis and these include for example, identifying future leader support leads. This scheme will involve selected top graduates who will be prepared to serve as peer supporters for other aspiring future leaders. Another pillar of this plan is to involve some participants in direct mentorship with the program facilitator, working alongside the firm in carrying out related program that will attract some stipend rewards.

The SALNAM executive expresses heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming support received from the funding agency- The supporting Black Canadian Community Initiatives (SBCC1), the tireless work of key executive members who volunteered their time and resources to prepare food in order to make the program a success. Mrs. Margaret Konteh, Mrs. Aisha Bangura, Mrs. Halimatu Kamara and the president himself Mr. Mo Koroma deserve special mention. Amadu Sidi Bah with support from the president carried out the project planning work that included drafting and finalizing the project related documents and successfully undertook pre-project implementation ground work.

Download SALNAM Future Leaders Workbook. Credit to Ultimate Potentials.

SALNAM Launches a Youth Leadership Capacity Building Program

By Mrs. Aisha Bangura, SALNAM Secretary General, Winnipeg, Canada.

SALNAM is pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative designed to enable our community youths to master foundational knowledge skills in leadership, interpersonal and social connections.

As a first program of its kind, its primary goal is to empower aspiring young community leaders to exercise essential leadership and interpersonal skills while embracing inclusion and diversity as they seek to play a more active role in various economic and cultural development projects in our community.

Our aim at the end of the program is to motivate our future young leaders to increase their engagement in leading projects and programs that will help bring the community closer and preserve rich cultural values.

The program will also provide a unique opportunity to train our youths and build the necessary connections that will lead to productive relationships and interactions vital to sustaining the community in the future.

The preparation of the program is at an advanced stage.

A renowned leadership training expert has been identified, and the contract has been signed. We plan to commence the program in early February 2024 and end in mid-March.

The program embraces a training workshop and post-training mentoring activities of our successfully selected youth participants.

Participants chosen will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program and an allowance of 50 dollars for participating.

To be considered, participating youths must be between the ages of 16 to 30.

Please submit your son’s or daughter’s name to Mrs. Aisha Bangura or Halimatu, our social secretary. Spaces are limited to fifteen maximums.

The condition for the participants is to meet the age requirements and be committed to attending all the sessions, which will be spread over two-hour weekly sessions for between 4 and 6 six weeks. (on a weekend).

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing back from you. – Mrs. Aisha Bangura