First Visually Disabled Graduate Corps Receives Computer From Deputy Youth Minister ( SEPT 2018)

By George English Miatta Muriel Moriba is visually impaired, but her situation didn't limit her from pursing her academic ambition. Born in Beduma, Bo District, she graduated with a BA in History/Sociology from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. A pupil of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls, Miatta sat her West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and performed excellently. She later gained admission to read Peace and Conflict, where she graduated with a distinction in Diploma. As the only visually impaired graduate corps, she received a brand new laptop from the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Lusine Kallon, for her courage and loyalty to serve her country. "Miatta has demonstrated to the world that her current status is not a limitation to proudly contribute to national development," Minister Kallon told journalists, adding that, "I used my hard earned salary to buy her the laptop to capacitate her do more research and easily do her job." The Deputy Minister said Miatta is the first visually impaired Sierra Leonean to be enrolled into the National Youth Service. The Minister explained that, "she came to my office two months ago asking that she should be given the chance to participate in the National Youth Service. The forms were not available at the Ministry but I referred her to the NYSC office at 31 Robert Street. Very energetic, she requested for a motor fare which was provided to her. I was surprised to learn that she applied and was recruited based on her qualifications. She was at the training camp at Hastings for 21 days and today I am elated to see her passed out successfully." Minister Kallon's support to vulnerable children and disadvantaged youth has been innate. He has provided support to many vulnerable children and less privileged youth to make them self-reliant in their society. Although blind, Miatta said the laptop will be used to do more academic research and compile her reports together in a very coherent manner. She thanked the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs for standing by persons with disability. She encouraged Minister Kallon to do more as according her, “the best service on earth is to serve humanity.” She called on other young Sierra Leoneans to emulate the good work of the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs. As part of his humanitarian gesture, the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs supported the Sierra Leone Correctional Center with soaps, football kits, two footballs and volley balls, goal post and some antiseptics for the inmates to wash their hands whilst behind bars.