EVENTS
Speech by the President of The Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba (SALNAM)
At the 64th Sierra Leone Independence Celebration Hosted by USLAND
Theme: “United We Stand” May 24, 2025 – Fargo, North Dakota
Good evening, everyone! It is a great honor for me to be here with you today. I bring warm greetings from the Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba also known as (SALNAM) . I want to say a big thank you to the United Sierra Leonean’s Association of North Dakota (USLAND) for inviting me to this important celebration. Today we celebrate 64 years of Sierra Leone’s independence. This is not just a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of our history, our strength, and our journey as a people. The theme for this year, “United We Stand,” is very powerful. It shows that when we work together, we are stronger both here in North America and back home in Sierra Leone. As President of SALNAM, I have seen how strong we can be when we unite. In Manitoba, our Sierra Leonean community works together to support one another. We help each other succeed and build a better future. Today’s event full of dancing, music, food, and stories is more than just a party. It helps keep our culture alive. It connects us to our roots. Even though we are far from home, our hearts still beat with love for Sierra Leone. We all come from different backgrounds. We speak different languages, follow different religions, and have different experiences. But what brings us together is our shared love for our country and our people. That unity is powerful. As Sierra Leoneans living abroad, we have a big role to play. We are not just watching from the sidelines. We can make a real difference. At SALNAM, we work to support education, youth, and community growth. We offer scholarships. We help young people with leadership training. We support small businesses and partner with groups in Sierra Leone to help those in need. USLAND is doing similar work. This means we have the same goals. But we can do even more if we work together. Together, SALNAM and USLAND can be stronger. We can help more people and create bigger change. So, how can our two organizations work as a team?
Programs for Youth
Let’s create leadership programs for young Sierra Leoneans in both Canada and the U.S. These programs can teach life skills, build confidence, and inspire them to lead.
- Cultural Events
Imagine having a “Sierra Leone Cultural Week” every year one in Manitoba and one here in North Dakota. We can share our food, music, clothing, and stories. This will help our kids feel proud of who they are. - Helping Sierra Leone
Together, we can collect school supplies, medicine, and other support for communities in Sierra Leone. These actions show love and unity. - A Legacy Project
What if we build a “Diaspora Legacy Center” in Sierra Leone? This could be a place for youth learning, small business training, and cultural sharing. It would be a gift from us to future generations.
These are not just big dreams. If we work together, we can make them real. As we mark 64 years of independence, let us think about the future. What kind of legacy are we leaving behind? Will our children remember us as people who stood together, who cared, and who gave back? Or will they see us as divided and silent? USLAND is doing great work, especially by helping Sierra Leone become self-reliant. At SALNAM, we believe in that too. We don’t want people back home to depend on aid forever. We want to help them build lasting solutions. Let’s create a strong network of Sierra Leonean groups across Canada and the U.S. Together, we can build something great. Something that lasts. As we enjoy the music, food, and stories today, let us also think about tomorrow. Let us plant seeds. Seeds of teamwork, Seeds of unity, Seeds of hope, Seeds of collaboration, Seeds of legacy. Let today be the beginning of a strong friendship between SALNAM and USLAND. A friendship that builds a better future for Sierra Leoneans everywhere. Let us write a new story one filled with kindness, unity, and action. As we say in Krio: “Wae pipul dem join an, even di biggest rope go tear.”
(When people come together, even the strongest rope can break.)
Let’s stand together and build something no rope can break.
Thank you. May God bless you all, and may God bless Sierra Leone.
-Moe Koroma
