Tamba Kungbana, alias Belleh, the Chairman of a group of youths in washing cars at Shell, Kissy has pleaded that they are in need of a water-holding facility i.e. a Mila tank, electricity, and other necessary materials which will boost the effectiveness of the work and from which they eke out their living.
He directed this appeal to Government, Non-Governmental Organizations and Humanitarians on Monday February 22, 2021.
He said that they chose to wash car for a living rather that live a life of crime on the streets as some of their age-mates had chosen. He said they had been making a living and supporting their families through it for the past 17 years.
“Since there was no job for us in the country, and we don’t want to be idle in the street causing havoc, destroying other peoples’ lives and property as some of our friends is doing, we intend to be here. Life is not easy for us though, but there is no option we must endure the situation,” he noted.
He explained that after the civil war in Sierra Leone, he had nowhere to go and no one to help him sustain his life. “I was 23 after the war. I have no one to help me and instead of going to the street begging or engage myself in crime, I decided to engage myself in car washing.”
He said their organization has over 42 registered members and over 10 that are unregistered youths whom he said were all making living out of washing cars. He noted that they are currently been supported by one Anita Amara, who has allowed them some part of her land to be used as wash car.
He explained “We have been here for over 17 years without her requesting anything from us. She only demands that we maintain peace among ourselves, be kind to one another and help one another in time of help. She pays taxes to the Guma Valley Water Company and the Freetown City Council all by herself.”
Kungbana raised concern that water supply is irregular, and has caused some of their customers to pay elsewhere for their cars to be washed, adding that he sometimes cope by sometimes fetching water in some of the drainages in the community just to bet by.
He added that at night when there is no supply of electricity, regulars do not come to them to wash their cars.
“People always think that we are criminals, so when it is dark our customers will not come, and that affected our job also,” he said.
He furthered that they are only important in the eyes of the politicians and the governments before and during the elections, adding that “after we have voted them in, we are no more considered; we are only considered now as ‘Raray boys’ (criminals and rubbers). But we are still asking the government, Non-governmental Organizations, and other humanitarians to help us the youths at the Shell Wash Car,” he concluded.
By Ibrahim S.Bangura
04/03/2021. ISSUE NO: 8014