BIO OF FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
Memunatu Barrie is the Founder and President of the Young Women voices for leadership in Sierra Leone. She is also founding President of the Powerful Women, and International organization Head-quartered in California USA. She was a participant and contributor to the Women’s International Network, WIN, where she has been invited twice to make a presentation at their annual summit through a rigorous international selection process that won her the scholarship. At WIN 2008, (vision and vitality); Moving into the Future, she says: “ this year, I have been granted a scholarship and invited to WIN in Spain, based on my proven merit and due to my role in enlightening young women, and girls in my country Sierra Leone. I was also invited due to my relentless advocacy and campaign to end violence against women through creative means and songs. It will be a unique opportunity and international experience to network with other women and young professional from around the world. My participation is also endorsed by the European Women’s Management Development (EWMD). At home in Sierra Leone, ms Memunatu Barrie, has been endorsed and certified by various NGO, INGO’s and civil society in the country. She received a certificate and kudos from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sierra Leone for participating and successful completion of training for youth researchers on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS for the evaluation of the Belgian Funded ‘Support for Reproductive Health and Gender needs for Disabled populations with special attention to adolescent in Freetown from the 5th -6th August 2005. Cause Canada in Sierra Leone, offered her a certificate of successful participation in the Implementation of Cause Sierra Leone program on HIV/AIDS Awareness raising project carried out in 15 schools in the Western Area of Sierra Leone from April 2002 – June 30th 2003. She helped in the production of the 2003 Beyond Borders international Film Project ‘Personal Stories from a Small Planet Organized by Listen Up New York, USA. She has also received trainings jointly organized by war Child Canada and the International education and resource Network on the theme “Capacity Building Training for youth leaders and outreach officers.
Her outreach activities involves advocacy and outreach in schools and communities in Sierra Leone. Her musical talents helped her to also launch several campaigns at the Grafton displace camp at Waterloo, giving her a voice that she continues to raise on behalf of women and children scarred by the war as well as those who’s human rights are violated on a daily basis. She has also raised her voice in several campaigns that helped in sensitizing communities on the problems of HIV/AIDS that affect women, youth and other vulnerable communities, and also on the issues of child rights and the prevention of children in armed conflict as child soldiers. Her songs ‘Be wise’ on the subject of HIV, Gun Shot, that talks about the impact of small arms on women, Women of Today, that extorts the power of women, Stop the war, a direct campaign to stop the use of child soldiers’ have given her a voice and set her apart as both a peacemaker, a human rights activist and children and women’s rights advocate. She has also performed with the famous Dutch Rap Artist Raymster in Sierra Leone on April 1st 2004 in a scintillating display of rap songs amongst Sierra Leonean and Dutch artist to make the issue of children’s rights known. She was on the Raymster in Sierra Leone on April 1st 2004 in a scintillating display of rap songs amongst Sierra Leonean and Dutch artist to make the issue of children’s rights known. Memunatu was on the shortlist of young and dynamic individuals selected from across the world to participate at the Canada World Youth Centre. She still maintains her leading role as an activist, for several non-profits including the International Network Against the Spread of Small Arms, (IANSA), based in UK, during the week of Action in 2007, she helped to launch the campaign with schools and communities, organizing workshops and sensitizing the public. She was also a leading singer at the national music concert to mark the end of the war and the cessation of hostilities in Sierra Leone. Under the title ‘di war don don’ meaning the war is over, this concert brought together Sierra Leeonean artist from the famed to the unknown. It was organized by the United Nations Armed Military Contingent in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). Her career plan is centred around Business Accounting which she pursues at the LICSSAL Business College in Freetown, Sierra Leone
Memunatu Barrie in her leadership role, leading a discussion on the fight against gun violence
workshops with the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) on the issues of HIV/AIDS |
