Sierra Leone: Teenagers in Salone, Malawi, Scotland Talk Development

Twenty-five children from the Government Secondary Technical School Friday discussed development issues with other children from Malawi and Scotland.

They did it without ever having to leave their country.

The more than 200 students participated in a videoconference organized by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) which was meant to allow them to exchange ideas live about development and issues affecting their lives.

In Scotland, the UK's secretary of state for development, Douglas Alexander and Sierra Leone's Foreign Affairs Minister Zainab Bangura witnessed the conference.

Bangura told the children of Sierra Leone that the future of Sierra Leone lies with them.

"No one can build Sierra Leone other than ourselves. I went to school without shoes; I came from a poor background. I was able to go to university. I went there with just five pieces of clothing, but I was determined, steadfast and committed - at the end of the day, we too can be like Scotland," she said, and encouraged the students to stay in school.

Michael Conteh, 14, one of the students from Sierra Leone, said he wanted to know whether the issue of child labour is as serious in Scotland as it is in Sierra Leone. "Our fellow teenagers are suffering in Sierra Leone. I hope and pray that the issue of child labour and trafficking will soon be eradicated." Conteh said he also wants to know about the standard of living in Scotland, which might not be the same in Sierra Leone.

DFID head of Programmes Rebecca Stringer said the conference is important in helping children know about other cultures.

She said the conference would also help the people in the UK to know more about what development means for people living in developing countries.

"The children in Freetown showed that they have a really sophisticated understanding of what development means, and I'm sure the children in Scotland learnt a lot from them."