Allie went through some hard times during the past five years.
He had spent two years in Banjul, The Gambia, studying auto mechanics at the SOS Production and Training Centre in Bakoteh. Once he successfully completed his vocational training, he returned home and resettled with some of his relatives in 2003.
Striving for self-reliance
On his return to Sierra Leone, Allie sought employment with no success. He did not give up, though. "Since I could not find 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."
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| Allie on his new motorbike…already taking a customer for a ride! |
Determined as he was to live an independent life, he came to know about 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.
Thanks to a positive recommendation from his former employer, Allie got the job. "I wanted to prove to my new employer that I was a trustworthy worker. I paid him for the use of the vehicle a daily basis as we agreed and whatever income was left belonged to me. [In Sierra Leone taxi drivers often do not own the vehicles.] I was saving daily. In 2006 I had saved 600,000 Leones [200 USD]."
With these savings, he managed to rent a house and buy some furniture. "I was happy that I was finally living on my own. Planning and saving brought about real change in my life. I was also able to send some money to my relatives every month, to make sure their children attended school."
Hard work pays off!
While he was working hard to earn his living, Allie often helped out at the SOS Children's Village and the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School in Bo. "Sometimes when they had to make a trip to town they would call me and ask me to take them there on my 'okada'. I always showed up as quickly as I could and they developed confidence in me".
Through the years, word got around about how diligent he was, and the resettled youth department of SOS Children's Villages Sierra Leone had heard a lot about him. Olatungie Woode, National Director for SOS Children's Villages Sierra Leone, was convinced about Allie's trustworthiness and gave him a loan for him to buy his own commercial motorbike.
Allie is determined to repay this loan within eight months. "I am not going to disappoint the national director and those who have respect for me."
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."