B-Gifted Foundation

Creativity and Technology to Address Human Rights, Enhance Peace and Sustainable Development  




 

A Jeanne Sauvé Scholar, Andrew Benson Greene Jr is the founder of B-Gifted Foundation. He has 10+ years experience in the non-profit sector, youth and children in wars as well as the issue of the human rights of children in areas of conflicts.  He has worked extensively in national and international research on human rights of children and has also traveled extensively to share his vision and innovative approaches of using the internet and new educational technologies for peace promotion, children and war-scarred youthHe has contributed to numerous prestigious international conferences, seminars,international lectures on thematic issues of children's rights, ICT and innovative technology for youth, peacebuilding and the predicaments faced by child soldiers around the world. Andrew is a well-known speaker having presented at the 7th, 8th and 9th Annual International Education and Resources Network Annual Conference in Beijing, Capetown and Moscow respectively. His astounding creativity and commitment has constaintly raised the bar and set him apart from others. His passion for inovation and associaton with the Intrnational Education and Resource Network, enabled him to set up the very first non-profit innovation centers in Sierra Leone which benefited thousands of children and youth and have had far-reaching impact and replication.

In 2004, the Canadian International Development Agency CIDA and the Canadian government summoned Andrew to be part of the panel of 3 Global Young Leaders at the International Coorperation Days, (ICD) Millennium Development Goals- (MDG), Moving from Consensus to Momentum, hosted by CIDA in Ottawa. The other two panelist were Alexandre Trudeau  and Jennifer Corriero

In 2003 Andrew received a major scholarship from the University of St. Francis Xavier to attend the 1st Africa-Canada Youth Symposium for Leadership in Development  sposored by CIDA and organised by Coady International Institute at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Halifax in Nova Scotia Canada. He was also selected to contribute as a mentor at the 1st Irmas International Youth media Summit in Reseda, Los Angeles in 2006.

Andrew has made major contributions and presentations at the U.N. 1st World Summit on the Information Society  (WSIS) in Geneva in December 2003. He was a guest speaker at the XXXVI Annual session of The Hague International Model United Nations  (THIMUN) conference January  2004 in The Hague, Netherlands. 

His efforts attracted the United Nations as a model in countries affected by war. Andrew’s peace building efforts and internet-based innovations culminated in an array of prestigious International Awards including the prestigious Cable and Wireless Childnet Awards which he received at the Science Museum in London in April 2003 as well as the Bremen Peace Awards where he received tremendous Commendation offered by  the Threshold Foundation in Germany in 2003. At the International Competition widely known as "Beyond Borders Personal Stories from a Small Planet' Andrew was the co-producer, script writer, mentor and Director of the award winner documentary 'We don't wanno War' organized by Listen Up! in New York 2003. He was contracted twice by the World Bank in D.C. to produce video documentary for the World Bank's World Development report focusing on 'Youth and the Next Generation'.

Andrew was a distinguished Sauvé Scholar at McGill University in  Montreal Canada in 2004. He was on a shortlist of Stanford University Reuters Digital Visions fellow in San Francisco 2004 as well as on the shortlist of Global Junior Challenge competition in Rome 2007. 

He was guest speaker at the Africa Now Untold Stories conference supported by the Canada Fund for Africa and organized by CIDA, the University of Carlton School of Journalism and the Canadian Government in Ottawa March 2005. 

Andrew was also one of 25 young leaders chosen by the World Bank in 2006 to contribute to the 1st World Ethics Forum at Keble College, Oxford University UK.

Andrew was also amongst 5 Global Leaders chosen by the World Bank in 2006 at the Youth2Youth Technopreneurship Event in DC. The world Bank and SGI invited Andrew to share his experiences at the Building a culture of Peace and non-violence for the Children of the World in DC March 2005.

Andrew was a distinguished Guest Speaker at Education Without Borders (EWB) 2007 organized by the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi. He was also summoned as a Guess Speaker for a campus-wide lecture series at Kenyon College Ohio and neighboring Nazarene University on the theme "Children of the crossfire" and the human rights of children in areas of conflict in March 2007.

He was a UN ITU Telecom World Young Digital Innovation Fellow in Geneva 2011 for his initiative 'Digital Hope' and Exhibited his products at the UN ITU Telecom Events in Dubai 2012.

He was summoned by Qatar Foundation in Doha at the 2nd and 3rd World Innovation Summit on Education  (WISE) organised by Qatar Foundation in Doha in 2011 and 2012.

His efforts was recognized by the Pan African Awards for Entrepreneurship in Education and 'Teach a Man to Fish',  UK in 2012. Andrew was a 'Build Peace through Technology Fellow' at the MIT Media Lab in Boston in April 2014 and a Hive Global Leaders Fellow in San Francisco January 2015.

He is also founder of these startups Post'Polonius' and 'Cardshionary'. He is a BA in English, Civil Law and International Relations from Fourah Bay College of the University of Sierra Leone and an MA Candidate in Co-existence and conflict.

 

For full bio, please click here to open in MS Word Format

  

   

  

  Abass Victor Osman Kamara           (Human Rights Director) 

Abass Victor Osman Kamara, worked extensively in giving legal advice to several human rights organizations in Sierra Leone. His work as Legal Executive for the Centre for Human Rights and democratic Reform in Sierra Leone, has led to the advancement of the rights of people in the local courts of Sierra Leone. Between 2004-till date, he holds the position as Legal Executive and research Officer for the Law Reform Commission in Sierra Leone. Earlier in 2004 he served in the same capacity as Legal Adviser at the Coalition of Civil Society and Human Rights Activists (CCSHRA) and has a long term commitment to working as Research Adviser for the Network Movement for Justice and Development. (NMJD). This service has led to awareness and potential enactment of the Just Mining Act of Sierra Leone that will relieve women and children from the scourges of unjust mining activities that impact them profoundly in mining areas of Sierra Leone. Added to these efforts are other commendable works of Mr. Abass Victor Osman Kamara between 2004 to 2006. He was Secretary (Sub Committee), in the following subject areas for Reform. These include the Commercial Use of Land, The Law on Marriage, inheritance and Succession, Law on Citizenship, Law on Conservation and Bush Fire prevention, review of the Anti-Corruption Act 200, and the Law Officer's Act.

Mr. Abass Kamara has also been consulted widely on various legal issues. In 2004, (Law Reform Commission), contracted him on the issue of Mining and the Hazardous Effects on the environment. Abass was a research consultant for Partnership Africa Canada through NMJD, as well as successfully consulted by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, on the Role of Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning on two Ethical initiatives, Arms and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Mr. Abass Kamara was also consulted by Action Plus, an NGO in Sierra Leone for the Simplification of the Gender Act including; Domestic Violence Act of 2007, Registration of Customary Marriages and Divorces Act 2007, and the Devolution of Estates Act 2007. In 2005, he was a Rappateur for the NGO HANCI Sierra Leone, on the subject of Trauma Healing, and served in a similar capacity with the NGO Chelshire Home Sierra Leone, relating to the Law on Disability Recommendations For Incorporation Into the UN Convention on Disability. In addition, he served as member of the Management Committee organized by the Mano River Union Peace Forum Sierra Leone on the issue of Peace within the Sub Region (Sierra Leone Guinea Liberia). Abass VO Kamara was a teacher of the highest calibre, having served as Senior Teacher at the Prince Of wales Secondary Schools Freetown, Sierra Leone from 1987 through 1993, preparing students for External Examinations for over 6 years. Abass V. O Kamara holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Judicial and Legal Studies, at the Sierra Leone Law School; LLB Hons; B.A. (Gen); HTC (Sec.) and LLM from Loyola University in Italy, and is currently serving as a Human Rights Officer at B-gifted Foundation. Abass VO Kamara’s hard earned experience in the field of human rights through legal services and his long term commitment working as consultant and researcher at various NGO's is a welcome asset to the work of the B-Gifted Foundation

Abdulai Bayraytay      (Board of Director)  

 

Mr. Abdulai Bayraytay is appointed Senior Policy Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and became the Personal Assistant to and Spokesman of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation  since May, 2008. He is the currently the Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Communication of the Government of Sierra Leone. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Bayraytay was a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada, and a Child Protection Worker at the Family Services Unit of the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS-T). Mr. Abdulai Bayraytay, who started his career in journalism as a reporter for almost 18 years and rose through the ranks to the position of Acting Editor in several newspapers, became reputably known as a human rights activist, pro-democracy, good governance and anti-corruption campaigner. He has worked extensively in peace building and democracy in Sierra Leone and in Canada, including Information and Research Officer at one of Sierra Leone’s leading Human Rights and Anti Corruption non-governmental Organisations, Campaign for Good Governance. Mr. Bayraytay, who graduated from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours in Political Science, also studied and graduated with a Master’s degree in Political Science majoring in International Relations from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. Full with the a passion to work with vulnerable and marginalised groups, especially children and women, he also enrolled and graduated with a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Toronto, Canada with a specialized interest in working with children and their families. As a result of his various work within Sierra Leone, regionally and internationally, including consultancy undertaken for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Mr. Bayraytay became particularly recognized as a key player in his role as Rapporteur in the signing of the West African Moratorium on Small Arms and Light Weapons by the ECOWAS Heads of State in Abuja, the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1998.

 

 

 

 

Patrick Lamboi     (Board Of Director)

 

Patrick F. Lamboi has worked for several humanitarian and developmental organizations in Sierra Leone. He is currently the  Program Assistant - Peace Building Fund Secretariat (PBFS) at the Office of the Executive Representative of the United Nations (ERSG), and United Nations Development Program- (UNDP) Sierra Leone. Prior to working with the Peace Building Fund, he served as Regional Program Advisor for West Africa and Area Coordinator-Southern Region at the Lutheran World Federation, Department for World Service’s (LWF/DWS’s) West African Bureau.  Patrick also worked for the  European Commission  between 2000-2005 and Sierra Leone Government’s Rehabilitation and Resettlement Program (EC/SLRRP).

His proven leadership ability  was further amply demonstrated in his effort and experience in developing and appraising post-war resettlement development proposals, ability  in     providing training and support on Participatory Strategic Planning Project PME, Poverty Community Development and Empowerment. In addition to this is his vast experience in the use of participatory techniques in collecting baseline data, planning and implementing projects and programs for development situations. Patrick received a distinguished  B.sc. (Hons) Degree in Agricultural Economics from   Njala University College-Sierra Leone, and is currently an MA candidate  in Peace and Development from   Njala University College-Sierra Leone. His passion and insight  for humanitarian work has enamored him to serve as a B-Gifted Foundation's Board of Advisor.

 

 

 

Senesie B. Kallon (Board Of Director

 

Mr. Senesie. B. Kallon is sustainability management professional with 8 years of experience in environmental, socio-economic development and natural resources management and research. He currently works as a Community Development Supervisor (Head of Community Development Section) at the Sierra Rutile Ltd mine, the world’s largest single producer of mineral sand Rutile. In this position he planned and task managed community development projects in more than 200 communities in 8 chiefdoms within the mining concession of Sierra Rutile Ltd and the sister bauxite mines, VIMETCO, as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the two sister mining companies. Projects implemented included community water sanitation projects, infrastructural development, emergency response (including relief aid assistance following mine related disasters) and involuntary resettlement of mine project-affected communities.  Prior to holding the position as Community Development Supervisor, he held the position of Environmental Health and Safety Supervisor (Head of Environmental Section) where he demonstrated excellent environmental management skills within the framework of the SRL Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) and best practiced guidelines such as World Bank’s IFC EHS guidelines and ISO 14000 & 14001.

Between 2004 and 2006, Mr. Kallon worked as Environmental Officer at CEMMATS Group Ltd., Sierra Leone’s largest engineering firm that handles complex projects in engineering and environment and socio-economic development issues. In this position he planned and task managed several project- and sector-level environmental and socio-economic assessments and audits, and miscellaneous policy related studies in mining (artisanal, small scale and large scale mines including sand and aggregates mining), water sanitation and other environmental and socio-economic development issues. He was also a strategist in the development of over a dozen Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies for various mining and engineering projects, and Strategic Environmental & Social Assessments (SESA) for the entire mineral sector of Sierra Leone in which endeavor he collaborated with various local and international experts (including World Bank) on environmental, health & sanitation and socio-economic management issues. Mr. Kallon is a strong exponent of (and background in) citizen’s (stakeholder) participation in environmental and social-economic development mainstreaming in development projects who has excellent knowledge in the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for environmental and development projects planning and natural resources management.

Mr. Kallon has been also involved in several consultancy services on sustainability management and policy related issues for various clients including the World Bank Group, the German Technical Corporation (GTZ), AgriEnviron (UK), USAID, DfID etc. He holds two masters degrees in Environmental Management and Environmental Sanitation (Rural Water Sanitation) respectively from the University of Ghent, Belgium and a BSc. (Hons.) degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Sierra Leone. After graduating with excellent grades from his undergraduate studies, Mr. Kallon was retained by the University of Sierra Leone for 2 years as a Research and Teaching Assistant from 2000 -2001 and a lecturer from 2001-2002 before leaving the country for further studies abroad. He also has a gifted intellectual and research domain and has published in international journals including the Journal of Environmental Health (JEH), NEHA, Colorado, USA.

 

 

Mohamed Lamin Soh - (Board of Director)

Mohamed Lamin Soh is a native Sierra Leonean.  Mohamed Lamin Soh, has a broad range of relief and development experience both at the national and international levels with increasing leadership responsibilities, six years of Administrative experience with international Organizations. In 2001, he received a certificate in project management at the Institute of Public Administration and Management, University of Sierra Leone. From 1990 -1995, pursued his studies at Fourah Bay college USL, receiving a Bachelor in Science and Economics and honors in biology. From March 2001-2002, he was community services Community supervisor, GTZ –MPL, in partnership with CARD –SL, building the capacity of local communities and structures to enable them plan and implement sustainable development activities and also promote socio political cohesion at community levels. From 2002-2004, he was Head Instructor, Gender and Child Protection Technical Trainer at the center in Kono District, at the GTZ International Services and community Action for Development in Sierra Leone, where he administered all affairs of the training center, ensuring that all staff perform the duties accordingly. From 2005-2008, he was the STAR Project national Coordinator at Action Aid International in Sierra Leone. There he served on a variety of teams including the STAR Management and Coordinating Team, Country Project HIV/AIDS team.

Mohamed Lamin says “my experience in working with these organizations have made me acquire the ability to cope with an enormous variety of tasks, both routine and unusual, easy and challenging, coupled with the personality required to work within and motivate the team, while also being able to relate individually to authorities and colleagues.”

 

 

 

 

Monica Redmond-Sovie MT (ASCP), CT (ASCP), MBA-HCM (Volunteer)

Monica Redmond-Sovie currently works in the healthcare sector, personalized cancer treatments in the United States, but volunteers her time to the B-gifted foundation. During her time, with B-Gifted she has acted in many capacities from conducting research, drafting memos, conducting presentations, training and development, worked on various campaigns and in the field, managed external relationships and collaborations, to advising B-gifted foundation on policies and procedures that will govern our organization and our quest to expand internationally. Her motto is “Be the change that you want to see in the world”

 

  

 

Maxwell Adeo Adew is one of B-Gifted Associate members since 2010. He is a young Social Entrepreneur, with 7 years of experience as a Young Educator and qualified teacher with innovative approaches to teaching global issues. He is the co-founder of Africa Rise International and also project leader ICT AFRICA. He studied computer science at the University of Gothenburg. 

Maxwell is a Youth Partner to United Nations Alliance of Civilization, (UNAOC) Member of United State Institute of Peace (USIP), West African Regional Coordinator for the International Association for the Advancement of Innovative approaches to global challenges.  (IAA). He is also the National coordinator Ghana and the Gambia Rio+20 Global youth Music Contest.

 

 

Mohamed Usifu Barrie 

Mohamed Usifu Barrie is B-Gifted National Youth Coordinator.  Barrie started his schooling at Regent Square Municipal School (RSMS) in 1997. At his primary school he sat through the National Primary School Examination (NPSE) and passed with distinction; scoring 315 that got him ready to be admitted into the great St. Edward's Secondary School, May Park, Kingtom in 2003. His first year in the school was outstanding and remarkable as he got the best result in the whole of J S S One(1) (Junior Secondary School). This led to him becoming a school prefect in 2005, backed with proficiency prizes and other subjects merits; with his skills in playing soccer he became famous both academically and footballing respectively.

  Upon completing J.S.S he started his Senior Secondary School(SSS) at the same school but this time as an Art student (Art Stream). At S.S.S he continued his academic excellence by winning more prizes in English Language, Literature, Government.

  In 2010, he was enrolled into Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone as a Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies(Degree) student. He took four(4) years to complete his  course with a Division 2 and happened to convocate in 2015 because of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that struck the country and her environs.

  Barrie has however been an outstanding and relentless gentleman who have dedicated his life and time to serving humanity and see that the world becomes a better place for all. 

In the 2012 General Elections he served the National Electoral Commission as a Voter Identification Officer. His youthful service and enterprise enabled him to serve his community with Restless Development, Sierra Leone in 2014 as a Community Mobilizer to help fight the deadly E.V.D robbing off the lives of the citizens of the Mano River Union. 

In 2015 he played double roles in ensuring that schools are re-opened by working with the National Electoral Commission (NEC-SL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MEST) to work as a Distributor of hygiene materials to help prevent the E.V.D and also help in distributing school learning materials to each school in Freetown as per quota. 

Till date, Barrie continues to serve institutions like BRAC a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) on a programme named "MANOSHI" designated for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five.

Barrie's zest and confidence, experiences on peace building and youth leadership, will be currently used to serve B-Gifted youth at the National Level to the best of his knowledge and engaging humanity at the broader level 

 

 

 

Ibrahim Success Sei Kamara is the Communications and development Officer at b-Gifted Foundation. He has also worked with The Gondobay Manga Foundation, a non-profit organization inspired by founder Isaiah Washington's as Public Relations and Communications Officer for six years.  He holds a B.A Hons in Mass Communications from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone where he is also currently pursuing an LLB degree. His outstanding and exhaustive contribution to the Communications and development sector has been demonstrated in his involvement in Working with B-Gifted Foundation's gender-based violence programs and also reporting on case study based on qualitative and quantitative data collected from literature reviews and field research conducted across Sierra Leone in 2009. This helps to unravel the "culture of silence" that shrouded gender-based violence and thus help to break the silence through reports from the field. The reportage provided, added to the openness and structures been put in place and working towards the prevention of gender-based violence.  http://steppinginforthegirls.blogspot.com/

Ibrahim is also currently a member of the Giraffe Heroes International in Sierra Leone where he helps to coordinate the programs with stories from Sierra Leone heroes who 'stick their neck out for the common good'. He has volunteered with Center for Human Rights and Peace Education (CHRPE) Green Scenery, UNICEF and Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL).  He is also a second year legal student studying Law at Fourah Bay College/USL. Ibrahim represents one of the youngest Communications activists who has worked directly with survivors of SGBV in the field,monitoring, Documenting, reporting  and Exposing Incidents of Gender-based Violence- As part of his roles as Facilitator, coordinating and holding sessions on cases of gender-based violence including rape and serious incidents of sexual violence.

 

Michael Nyuma Gbondo     (Information Technology Director)

Gbondo is B-Gifted Foundation’s Information Technology Consultant and Resource Manager. He has worked for Inter-Business World from1999-2004 as Technician Electronics and Sales Manager, and the Tiwai Memory Masters (TMM) from  2005 till date as Technician and Café Manager. His expertise includes PC maintenance, Networking, Wireless Connectivity (CISCO), Graphic Designs, CCTV Camera Installation and V-SAT Installation). In recognition of his work and Training, Michael received an outstanding awards from the Tiwai Memory Masters in Sierra Leone for achievement and excellence in  A+,  Networking and Wireless and satellite Installation. Since 2008, whilst serving with B-Gifted Foundation, he has been keen to further explore how his unique technology skills and background can better help in Philanthropic ventures. As B-Gifted Foundation Information Technology Resource Person, Michael hopes to continue bringing new and innovative insights in the work of the Foundation to transform positively the Sierra Leone society, by helping in strategic technology planning for the B-Gifted Foundation Information Technology Unit. His Proficiency in the use of Office Suite: MS Word, MS Power Point, MS Publisher, MS Access, MS Excel and MS Paint has also served as a plus to the Foundation