Public Spiritedness and Its Role in Community Development
Keynote Address By
H.E. Hon. Ibrahim Sorie
Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Mission to the European Union (EU).
Delivered on the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Founding of Old Kolenten Secondary School Students Association (OKSA) in Virginia, USA,
on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd August, 2014.
Esteemed Master of Ceremonies,
Mr. President of OKSA,
Excellencies,
Colleague Ambassadors and diplomats,
Fellow Alumni,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
All other protocols duly observed,
First of all, I want to thank the leadership and the entire OKSA membership for inviting me as Guest of Honour and one of the Keynote Speakers to this important annual event in the calendar of our Alma Mater, Kolenten Secondary School in Kambia.
Fellow alumni and friends, the theme I have been asked to speak on at this evening’s gathering is entitled, “Public Spiritedness and its Role in Community Development”. It is a theme that I consider not only important but also relevant to the times we live and to the ethos in which we were nurtured at Kolenten; a theme for all seasons; a wake-up call to all of us to embark on a journey of self-audit reflection on how much contributions we have made to the development of our communities.
The ordinary dictionary meaning of the term ‘public spiritedness’ refers to human behavior that is “motivated by or exhibiting devotion to the public welfare“. Others understand it simply to mean “having or showing an unselfish interest in the public welfare“. Public Spiritedness is therefore commonly understood to mean behaviour that promotes the public interest and the general good of the community.
Among the political philosophers, ancient as well as modern, public spiritedness is directly related to the concept of “civic virtue”. The latter being understood to refer to the cultivation of those habits of personal living and behaviour that promote harmony and the collective success of a community.
A citizen worthy of the name is expected to exercise those personal qualities that promote ‘the effective functioning of the civil and political order, or the preservation of its values and principles’. Modern political scientists such as Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba have written tomes on how ‘civic culture’, embedded in community networks and the various public institutions, is essential to the success of democratic societies.
In our beloved continent of Africa, public spiritedness is embedded in the Bantu concept of “Ubuntu”. Deriving from the Nguni language, it is the equivalent of moral categories such as humaneness, human kindness, goodness and virtue. A whole philosophy has evolved around this concept, and made famous by illustrious figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the legendary Nelson Mandela.
The idea of Ubuntu derives from the notion that we are human only because of others; that a person is a person through other people. In the new South Africa, the concept of Ubuntu is being applied to management, the judiciary and in various approaches to human development. According to Archbishop Tutu, a person with Ubuntu is “open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed”.
Whether we understand it in terms of civic virtue or the African philosophy of Ubuntu, public spiritedness aims to help people understand what the nation expects of them as citizens; especially in the sense of expression of our common humanity towards our fellow human beings, our communities and our nations.
In the wider perspective of the Public Good, Public Spiritedness is a behaviour that develops a culture of “Giving Back to Society”, a culture of service and contribution making a difference on peoples’ lives. Its elements invoke the spirit of helping others, a dedication to bettering the quality of life for all or making life better for others. Public Spiritedness involves the following essential elements:
Leadership rooted in a determination/commitment to leave positive legacy of service to humanity;
Uncompromising support for society’s existence and safety;
Working for the common good and welfare of society;
Strong support for the peace, security and stability of society;
Commitment to the Rule of Law, Democracy and Good Governance, good national policies and strong institutions;
Protection of rights and freedoms, including vulnerable groups;
Ensuring the efficient and effective management of our environment and natural resources;
Working towards eradication of poverty, social injustice, impunity and corruption;
Developing the spirit of Public Volunteerism;
World citizenship and advocacy for a stable global order that dedicates itself to the maintenance of world peace and stability.
Esteemed Master of Ceremonies, Today our resilient country faces its biggest challenge since the end of the civil war and is again demonstrating values of public spiritedness. The deadly Ebola virus wreaking havoc in our country threatens to destabilize our country and counter the gains we have made as a nation over the past thirteen years. But in the face of this dreadful disease Sierra Leoneans are coming together again, demonstrating the same resilience that saw us through the civil war. Sierra Leoneans from all corners of the world have displayed stellar acts of public spiritedness. Today we see the public making donations to Government to help in the fight to eradicate this viral disease from our motherland. We hear of musicians, groups and associations embarking on sensitization campaigns in a bid to rid our land of this disease. We saw Dr. Sheik Umar Khan and other medical personnel whom we have lost in the fight against Ebola fight to save others while fully aware of the risk to their own lives. Let us use this unfortunate and unique moment in our country’s history to imbibe a culture of public spiritedness. We are stronger when we act together devoid of tribe, region, class, gender or party affiliation.
Esteemed Master of Ceremonies, let me now direct the rest of my speech to the specifics of our own Alma Mater’s Alumni contribution to the national effort of our country’s development; and the extent to which our school laid the foundational preparation for cultivating in us the right spirit for public service and public volunteerism.
Approaching six decades of its existence as the First Secondary School in Kambia District, Kolenten has since come of age. She has produced many graduates in different works of life. Hence, stock-taking of its products’ contribution in promoting Public Spiritedness values would continue to serve as a vivid reminder of our duty to help develop our communities.
Founded in 1961 and managed by the Catholic Mission, Kolenten Secondary School derived its name from the Kolenten River which has its source from the Fouta Djallon Highlands of Guinea, one of West Africa’s largest water basins which also happens to be the water source for all our rivers in Sierra Leone and the 7 (seven) major rivers in West Africa.
Drawing our inspiration from this river, which is the main source of our people’s livelihood and a source of hope, the communities along the Banks of the Kolenten River take great pride in it. It provides them with a sense of community spirit, inspiration. In short, the Kolenten River embodies the hopes of our people.
It is this same spirit of inspiration to aspire that our School Motto – LUCEAT LUX NOSTRA – MAY OUR LIGHT SHINE is deeply implanted. This light gives symbolism of our mission to:
Carry and show the light of education, enlightenment and commitment to serve our respective communities;
Radiate the light that illuminates the darkness in our communities, the darkness of illiteracy and ignorance, backwardness and exploitation that are often associated with the lack of education;
Illuminate and distribute the flame of knowledge, understanding responsibility and transformation;
Carry the light that brightens our pathways, our Homes and Hopes of our people.
At Kolenten, we were taught to value education, spiritual values of monotheism and to unfailingly abide by the spirit of religious, ethnic and social tolerance. Our Alma Mater taught us the virtues of discipline, modesty, humility, respect, obedience, selflessness, responsibility, sympathy, empathy and hard work. Kolenten imbibed in us the spirit of Giving Back to Society public volunteerism and partnership to render valuable assistance to communities and country. Kolenten also taught us the skills and values of servant leadership.
I have no doubt in my mind that OKSA Members have, over these years, been putting into practice such value systems by the many interventions this association has made in the past, especially during and after the conflict in our country our multipurpose school complex project that will serve not only the school but the larger community is a solid testament of such type of interventions.
Master of Ceremonies, I am proud to state that over the decades of our Alma Mater’s existence, the institution has evolved a unique brand that makes it products stand out from the rest. We are known as school for: high standards; discipline; hardwork; healthy competitiveness and sportsmanship; honesty; humility; and compassion. Traditions of respect for authority, obedience and orderliness are also part of our brand.
Our school has produced many distinguished people who today occupy high positions in society and who continue to serve their communities as teachers, erudite scholars and civil servants of all categories – including the present Head of the Sierra Leone Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary. We have among us highly accomplished members of the professions such as lawyers, medical doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals; engineers, architects and businessmen; and not least, statesmen and diplomats of international repute. The list is endless.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in a nutshell, I submit that in many respects, our Alma Mater has made significant strides in public service. It has contributed and will continue to contribute, its fair share to our national development. We shall provide the understanding that is rooted in our cultural and social values in galvanizing positive spirit for community and national development.
Such values without doubt that have helped us carve out our own niche in the spirit of our times to withstand and overcome the challenges of corruption, greed and selfishness that are antithetical to the spirit of civic virtue. It is for this reason that I have an abiding faith in our school. It is with the same abiding faith that we shall continue to carry the Bells that chime in our homes, in our communities and our nation. The hour hand on our clocks reminds us of the importance of using our time wisely; reminding us that “Time and Tide Wait for no Man”.
I believe that the spirit of public service will encourage our Old Kolentonians to continue providing the needed leadership to promote our people’s welfare.
I believe that “the Purpose of Life is a Life of purpose”; a life to make a difference through one’s presence. As the great humanitarian missionary doctor Albert Schweitzer observed: “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed”.
Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe in the power of education to lift our people out of poverty. Therefore, my appeal to all the alumni of Kolenten Secondary School is for us all to give systemic support that our government needs to build a stable and effective education system in Sierra Leone.
I believe that all Kolentonians will collectively continue to stand by and provide the needed leadership on this our ongoing journey, to give all children a chance to go to school and receive a quality education no matter where they live. In this regard, I appeal to all Old Kolentonians to continue matching our commitments with action and to promote the brand for which we are also known. Indeed, as some of the sacred scriptures have said, “By their fruits, ye shall know them”. Indeed, I believe in Kolenten, our proud and imperishable heritage. It is incumbent on all old Kolentonians to be the best ambassadors of our Alma Mater; remaining steadfast in doing good and serving our nation and community — honourable in thought and deeds – and worthy of the jewels of inestimable value that Kolenten has given us.
President of OKSA, and Fellow Alumni, in concluding my address, permit to distil my final thoughts that I have put together from my readings of the Great Books of Literature, Science and Philosophy:
Not how long we have lived, but how useful our lives have been to society.
Not what we have gained, but what we have given back.
Not what creed we belong to, but those we befriend in time of need, we cheer to bring back smiles and banish their sufferings.
Not how long we have worked, but what contribution we have made to our community’s development.
Not what the sketch in the newspaper will say when we finally leave the stage, but the number of lives we have positively touched and how much we would have been missed.
These, in my humble opinion, are the units with which to measure the worth and stature of a man as a man, and a woman as a woman, regardless of birth or station or destiny.
I will end this prose with the most widely quoted words of the late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.
Once again, let me congratulate you all for the valuable work you have done for our Alma Mater and thank you very much for this honour. Thank you!
May I now, with the kind permission of the Chair, ask all Kolentonian Alumni to sing with gusto our School song so that the nightingales will join us all in distributing it to the rest of the world.
Thank you for your kind attention.
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