I’ve been quiet about my reaction
to Kelvin Doe’s successes over the last year. I just wanted to watch his
progression without overt praise although always in elation. I knew that watching him
was going to be about learning or re-learning a few life lessons. You know the story we all
hear about and rarely ever experience? The one about moving from rags to riches
or fame, Oprah’s story, Tyler Perry’s
story, in some ways our own Sierra Leonean Sam King’s story and now Kelvin Doe.
When I mean moving, I literally mean the JUMP that occurs from absolute obscurity
to one of immense international recognition, fame, access to the world’s brilliant minds
and financial fulfillment. The story we hear and the one many of us will not
experience. How does a young boy dancing on the seams of society come to meet
another Sierra Leonean pioneer David Sengeh who has access to the world’s best
programs and connections create a catalytic partnership that spins the both of
them to super stardom, meaning last time I checked David made Forbes List of 30under 30 brilliant minds to look out for, and Kelvin, well Kelvin Doe attends
TEDx Austine with the likes of Chelsey Clinton, gets an interview at CNN and is
now MIT’s favorite baby. Ah, the power of intention and its alignment to God’s
plan is a power filled concept. As a multi-passionate person, recently just
learned this from a friend, whose passion
aligns with being good at many and at times apposing things, I do not focus on
being excellent at one thing, I’m everywhere and give 90% at everything with a substantial focus on being successful, or rather to be precise, imagining what TOMORROW will look like if i continue to work HARD HARD. In turn i do not pay enough attention to today, to the now and here. See, when you take care of
the present, God, a high power, takes care of the future. This concept/dogma becomes
clear with the likes of Kelvin Doe. I highly doubt that when he was being
resourceful by gathering scraps to build a generator that he was thinking
about how MIT, HARVARD, THE CLINTON's AND the rest of the world would be singing
his praises. He was in the moment, doing what was natural and authentic to him,
he was taking care of the present and his future was being taken care off by God, the (
UNI) Verse.
Beyond re-learning that lesson
with Kelvin Doe’s success, another point become very apparent to me - the NEED to gestate the multiple talents and even naive concepts, ideas and
dreams of our youth. As a young woman navigating the waters of Sierra Leone,
professional and personally, the fact that I’m 20 something sitting on some
decision-making tables is often a hindrance than a positive. I am lucky to have a boss/mentors
who choose to nurture and help channel my overt passion, enthuse and energy productively,
who believes in my sometimes premature idealism as a young person without
feeling threatened, and do not say ‘ good job’ now go seat in the
corner like a little girl that you are, they often ask "how are you going to
strategically influence policy, or make change or convince a people that this
issue matters". The simple act of listening further fuels confidence in my own
ability as a young Sierra Leone to positively influence change. This is what I find
lacking generally in our country. Young people are underutilized and ineffectively at that. Kelvin
Doe would never have become the Kelvin Doe that everyone in Sierra Leone is so
very proud off at age 16 if the recognition had not come externally and so I wonder,
how many Kelvin Doe’s across the country are we diminishing or not recognizing?
I get it, we are African.
Respecting and honoring our elders is IMPERATIVE and imbedded in the fabric of
our cultural heritage and I would not have it any other way. Yet, in a country
where over 50% of the population are below the age of 18, it is a waste and
shame to a. not gestate the talents of young people b. relegate their talents to menial tasks
and in turn to not properly mentor, shape, or provide space for us to grow and
become the ‘change agents’ that this country so desperately needs. We must
learn from our elders and guess what, our elders must learn from us to. What we
know best is adaptability, technology, inter-connectivity these are imperative
skills in our growing global economy.
In summary, Kelvin Doe’s success
remind me that:
1. 1. Take
care of the present, do your best by being clear on your intention. Be present, open and authentic in
anything you do in the NOW and God will take care of your future. Remember, God’s
dream for you is bigger than any dream you can dream.
2. 2. Young
people have a lot to offer to our community, to our institutions to the growth
of our country. If the Agenda for Prosperity’s focus is focused on building the
capacity and infrastructure of human beings, then these very human beings will
naturally build a nation they want to see. Learning is a two Way Street, Sierra
Leone must begin to learn from its youth in a viable way, and I’m not talking
governmental youth policies/strategies that do not always reflect or are not
encompassing of ideas, dreams, and innovation.
As Kelvin Doe continues to soar,
my deep hope is that we find more Kelvin Doe’s in Sierra Leone, on the
continent and in every corner, township, village, slum, cervix, school, street
and nourish their gifts, ah the surprises that could be bestowed on us.
Happy 2014. Be Inspired.
Fambul dem, this is how we do...
