Donald Kalokoh represents Sierra Leone at President Obama’s Forum with Young African Leaders

Sierra Leoneans the world over should be proud of Mr. Donald Kalokoh who is currently participating in President Obama’s Forum with Young African Leaders in Washington D.C. Donald is one of 110 African leaders who were nominated by their local US Embassies to attend the forum, which features a town hall-style meeting with President Obama.

Donald is the Sierra Leone country representative for Youth Action International, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) working to empower women and youths to reach their full economic and social potential.

He sits on the Mano River Union Youth Parliament’s Sierra Leone chapter, which is a network of young people who advocate for peace, human rights and the empowerment of youth in the countries of the Mano River Union.

Donald Kalokoh holds a diploma in community development and certificate in human rights from the African Institute of Management, Governance and Development (AIMDG) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He told America.gov, “My vision for the future of Sierra Leone is to have a country where there is equal employment opportunity, good governance, no corruption, and economic prosperity, a situation where young people would be regarded as leaders of today and not leaders in waiting.”

“It has always been my dream to meet with President Obama, whom I consider a ‘living monument’ of Africa,” Kalokoh said. “I am looking forward to gaining a lot of inspiration from the forum because it will offer me an opportunity to articulate the views and expectations of young people in Sierra Leone and the West Africa region which my leadership has offered me the opportunity to learn and experience.”

“The forum will expand on my leadership skills by acquiring new knowledge and skills on how we can work together as young Africans to develop innovative solutions to the challenges which confront us,” Kalokoh said.

Also representing Sierra Leone at the forum is Amienatta Khoumba Kanawa of Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Organization

Youth Action International is a US based NGO founded by Liberian 2007 Golden Brick Award winner, Kimmie Weekes. They operate in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda