Meet our past and current National Youth Coordinators

Musa A. Soko:

Musa Soko is the current National Youth Coordinator of ECYG-SL. He is determined to see more youths in Sierra Leone adapt and implement the Earth Charter in their lives and communities.

He is actively involved in public advocacy and youth work and with an academic background in Peace, Musa is actively involved in peace-related advocacies and he is a member of the African Union Peace and Security Cluster and also a Member of the Steering Committee of the Dis-Arm for Peace Project. With kin interest in Urbanization, he was elected as a member of Youth Advisory Board of the UN-HABITAT representing Africa. Whilst serving as Board Member, Musa worked with a number of NGOs and government institutions to promote youth issues that has to do with the daily challenges youth are faced with, in search of solutions.

Musa is firmly dedicated to the advancement and development of his society and those within it. He has an unflagging commitment to peace promotion and human rights with specific interest to the rights of women, children, youth and disabled persons. His devotion to the rights of marginalized people is evidenced in his earlier voluntary work and at 20, he introduced the Blind and Visually Impaired in Sierra Leone to basic computer literacy via an on-screen reader known as JAWS. He is also focused on the interlocking dynamic of peace building and reconstruction for development, human security, justice and democracy. However,Mr. Soko has a sophisticated understanding of the need for conflict prevention, resolution and reconciliation as a central component of energizing his country and region.

He has enormous confidence in the powers of youth and civil society to make the necessary changes needed in the world and Sierra Leone in general. As such, Musa put special efforts into youth-led development and activism. He currently occupies key leadership positions within Sierra Leone, Africa and around the world among which to name a few; Global Call to Action Against Poverty as African Children/Youth Taskforce Member and also a Sierra Leonean Youth Representative to the African Union/Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO). Musa Ansumana Soko was a member of the Expert Group Meeting in the design and Implementation of the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps.

The fact that Musa as been an active portion of all these demonstrates the confidence and faith entrusted in him, Musa is interested in development cooperation to which extent he has attended meeting of the African Union-European Union Strategic Partnership Meetings. Musa was also invited by the Real Aid Network to participate at the 3rd High Leven Forum on Aid Effectiveness which also took into account review of progress on the Paris Declaration in 2005. At a point during the UN International Conference on Trade and Development XII, Musa as accredited to participate as one of the youngest youth delegates in 2008.

Musa has travelled to a number of countries to participate in international meetings, conferences, training sessions and more to deliver talks and help in design of policy documents. and at the age of 20, he introduced the Blind and Visually Impaired in Sierra Leone to basic computer literacy via an on-screen reader known as JAWS. This has allowed him to have me various and renowned personalities in the UN systems and other key INGOs/NOGs, Leaders and inspiring young people across the globe.

Musa is energetic, capable with sustained concentration, and is enthusiastic about participating in discussions , trainings and debates that helps foster meaningful changes for those he serves and works with.

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Sylvanus S. Murray:

Sylvanus Murray founded the Earth Charter Youth Group in Sierra Leone in 2003. He is the current Executive Coordinator of the Earth Charter Sierra Leone (ECSL) Network. Sylvanus has been with the United Nations (UN) for over seven years. Sylvanus Murray holds a BA and an MA in Mass Communications and a long list of UN training certificates.

Mr. Murray has been a strong advocate for the Earth Charter Initiative in Sierra Leone and beyond. He was the first to introduce the Earth Charter to fellow Sierra Leoneans and he started off as National Coordinator for the Earth Charter Youth Group in Sierra Leone (ECYG-SL) which he founded in 2003.

He was a member of the Earth Charter Youth Initiative (ECYI) Core-group. The core-group was made up of volunteers from all over the world, charged with the responsibility of coordinating all ECYI activities around the world.

In November 2005, he attended the Earth Charter+5 event in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The event was to celebrate accomplishments of the Earth Charter Initiative over the past 5 years, share experiences, and launch a new phase of the Initiative.

Between July and August 2006, Sylvanus represented the Earth Charter Youth Group in Sierra Leone (ECYG-SL) at the Compassionate World Youth Conference organized by the Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) and the Immersion Youth Camp organized by the Taiwan Ecological Stewardship Association (TESA) in Taiwan.

Mr. Murray founded the Advocacy Initiative for Development (AID). AID is a non-profit, non-governmental organization seeking to advocate for the development of people and their communities in Sierra Leone and beyond.

Sylvanus believes the Earth Charter Initiative works to protect and safeguard the dignity of people and their environment and at the same time serving as a reminder to both local and key global actors to live up to expectations and commitment in a bid to restore hope.

Mr. Murray strongly believes that the Earth Charter has a lot to offer to people facing poverty and deprivation in his country. He is very optimistic that with the appropriate supports/resources, people who will embark on projects relating to the principles of the Earth Charter will be able to effect positive changes that will enhance sustainable peace and development in Sierra Leone.