Allie, the proud owner of a commercial motorbike
23/06/2008
Local economic conditions in some countries do not always make it easy to succeed. But with perseverance and hard work, it is possible to be rewarded. Read more about this former SOS youth from Bo
When Allie went into the shop to buy his new commercial motorbike, he was one of the happiest men that day. This former SOS youth from Sierra Leone, now 28 years old, has struggled and worked hard to reach his goals but now he can be proud to be a self-reliant young man!
Allie did not find the past five years all rosy.
Allie had resettled with some of his relatives in 2003. Before, he spent two years in Banjul, The Gambia, studying auto mechanic at the SOS Production and Training Centre in Bakoteh. He successfully completed his vocational training and returned home to render his service to his country. Not having any income to be fully independent and just looking for a job, even though SOS Children helped with some furniture and money at his disposal, Allie preferred to live with distant relatives.
In Sierra Leone it's a cultural thing to contribute to household expenses when you live under the same roof. Allie also wanted to support the children of these distant relatives with their education fees, to give them the same opportunity which he had at the SOS Children's Village, which put some pressure on him.
Striving for self-reliance
On his return to Sierra Leone, Allie went out to search for employment but with no success. However, he did not give up! "Although I did not get a job I decided to undergo further practical training with a garage owner. I enjoyed what I was doing and the little money I was earning. I saved part of it to pay my two younger 'brothers' school fees and to feed myself. It was not an easy task for me," Allie reveals.
Determined as he was to live an independent life, he came in contact with a motorbike owner who was looking for a reliable young man to manage his commercial taxi motorbike, most commonly known as 'okada' in Sierra Leone.
Based on the positive recommendation Allie's new employer got from his former master, he got the job. "I wanted to prove to my new employer that I was a trustworthy worker. I paid him on a daily basis as we agreed and whatever income was left belonged to me. I was saving on a daily basis. In 2006 I had saved 600,000 Leones (200 USD)," he remarks. Note: In Sierra Leone taxi drivers are often not the owners of the vehicle. The drivers pay the owner a fixed amount of money and what they earn above is theirs.
With this savings, he managed to rent himself a house and buy some furniture to furbish it. "I was happy that I was finally staying on my own. It really helped me to plan and improve on my financial status. However, every month I still sent some money to my younger 'brothers', to make sure they attended school," Allie discloses.
Hard work pays!
While he was working hard to earn his living, Allie was very serviceable to the SOS Children's Village and the SOS School in Bo. "Sometimes when they had to make a trip to town, they would call upon me to take them there on my 'okada'. I've always answered to their request promptly and as a result they had confidence in me" , explains Allie.
And time came for Allie to reap the benefit of being hard working and self-reliance! Over the years, while he was fighting tooth and nail to be successful in life, the resettled youth department of SOS Children Sierra Leone had been getting positive reports about him. It was on the basis of these reports that Olatungie Woode, National Director for SOS Children Sierra Leone, was convinced to extend a loan to him to buy his own commercial motorbike.
Allie is more than determined to repay his loan, within eight months time. "I am not going to disappoint the national director and those who have respect for me," he stresses.
What would Allie say to other SOS youths?
"My advice to all SOS youths is that despite all the challenges you may face in life, do not give up! Continue to work hard towards self-reliance," he concludes.
Allie was admitted into SOS Children's Village Bo in 1987 when he was just six years old, after he had lost both of his parents. He completed all his education at the SOS school in Bo and opted to pursue a vocational training. Thanks to SOS Children Sierra Leone and all its sponsors, Allie is now a strong, trustful and self-reliant man!
Relevant Countries: Sierra Leone.