YES Leader: Mr. James Hallowell
Email : Hallowell.james@gmail.com
Website : www.yesweb.org

Vision : The Network envisions the dignified status and positive contribution of the youth towards the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone, through promotion of sustainable youth employment opportunities.

Background : Sierra Leone is a nation in transition; youth unemployment is a big challenge and a threat to the country's transition process from post-war to peace security and development. The youth unemployment rate is between 40-55%. Youth unemployment and underemployment should be a priority, more so as the youth unemployment situation was one of the reasons that attracted the active participation of young people in the decade-long conflict.

About the Network : The Network has 227 members from youth and civil societies and is hosted by Peace links organization. The Network is actively engaged in advocating for youth Education and employment issues. Since its inception the network has worked to sensitizing stakeholders about the unemployment dangers faced by majority of Sierra Leonean mainstream and marginalized youth through capacity building workshop, organizing radio discussion programs and symposium, bringing policy makers and youth together, and also partner with youth alliances on employment advocacy and creation programs.

Current Major Initiatives:

• Advocating with the Government for the setting up of a National Youth Commission which will look into the policy development for the youth and address pertinent issues like employment and skill building.
• YES is also working to ensure that the youth policy this time addresses youth employment and unemployment issues, more so to meet with the post-war youth employment and unemployment challenges in country’s transition process, from postconflict to peace security and development.

Key Accomplishments :

• District Sensitization on the YES Alex Framework of Action and the Declaration of the Six E’s of YES (Equity, Employability, Employment Creation, Environmental Sustainability, Education and Entrepreneurship)
• The establishment of YES networks at district levels
• The establishment of YES Networks at Universities in the country
• Conducted on Number of Seminars, Symposium and Radio Programs on Youth Employment in Sierra Leone