Report From Sierra Leone
On the 20th May 2004 Mr Andrew Benson Greene and I had a short meeting with the teachers, parents, and students of the Children's Welfare Primary School which is one of our refugee schools in Freetown, Sierra Leone. There were nineteen students who received pen pal letters from partner schools in Canada and United States of America (USA).
Comments From Parents
The parents gave positive responses by thanking the iEARN RESPECT team and expressed the hope that this program will continue because it helps their children. The parents of some of the students were not there because they had been killed, had their houses burned, and their property distroyed during the ten years civil conflict. What will be these orphan students' fate? They facing a lot of difficulties at this time.
The school children were thankful their pen pals had accepted them with all difficulties and the struggles they face in their communities. They also said they had learned something through photos, drawing, postcards, etc. their pen pals sent them.
At the end of the meeting one of the teachers remarked that the program is really worth the effort and they are sure the students and teachers gain from the program. Information communication and technology (ICT) is presently a need for both students and teachers. They need to have basic computer training and internet access to be able to communicate with other students and teachers.
Thanks and Appreciation
I thank Moussa Magassa, RESPECT Country Coordinator for West African countries, and Simon Dewerson, RESPECT e-Store Manager, who are working with us to see that we have adequate music equipment for our Refugee Recording Studio project. The students are ready to record their songs and movies about global issues such as human rights, peace building, peace and reconciliation, child soldiers, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, etc. This will help refugee communities to have adquate materials for their school and social activities.
Outdoor Activity of May 15, 2004
On the fifteenth (15th) of May this year, the young peacesetters of iEARN Sierra Leone were taken to the Atlantic Beach for an outdoor activity organised by the dynamic youth leaders of the team, Schwarbu E. Kamara, national youth film leader and Herbert S. Bangura – admistrative film leader.
It all started at 11:30 am with an opening prayer by Herbert S. Bangura. Schwarbu E. Kamara made an opening statement. At the end of his statement the room was opened for interractions, jokes and fun with each and every youth. With beautiful smiles of joy, we all interracted and cracked jokes together. With a total number of twenty-eight participating youth including two visiting youth.
Schwarbu E. Kamara was able to precisely and accurately pass on his technical skills/knowledge in filming (video recording/film production) to these energetic, determined, and focused young people who are willing to go the extra miles in setting the pace in the information communication technology world and peace building campaigns through the use of video media technology. The teaching lasted for about forty-five (45) minutes.
A recess period of about twenty minutes was observed whilst food and drinks prepared by the beautiful ladies of the team was served and music played.
Herbert S. Bangura also talked for forty-five minutes about the technique of stage acting, film acting, and script writing. The teaching was like stirring up the minds of the youth to be more determined and prepared for the best. Their determination to make a difference as was clearly seen from their emotions. A time for debate, discussions, questions, suggestions, and contributions lasted for about an hour and a half.
This time came to a close when a beautiful young girl said "may God give us more wisdom and strength to enable us succeed as we wish for the best."
At the end of this session, the National Coordinator Mr Andrew B. Greene and I arrived at the beach and were warmly welcomed by the peacesetters as they were served enough to eat and drink.
We all played football together and had some time of fun with our youth. At about 5:00 pm we all assembled together to have some more drinks and food whilst Mr Andrew Benson Greene took the stage to extend his sincere thanks and appreciation to the team and its leaders, pledging his total support to all their activities.
I then stressed the importance of orientation and commended the team for their hard work, determination, and numerious initiatives to make a positive change in the world.