Sierra Leone

“Sierra Leoneans must unite to eradiate poverty – unity is strength.” These were the words of the UNDP Spokesperson on War and Poverty for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Adisa Jelani Andwele (AJA), at a press conference at the end of a one-week goodwill trip to Sierra Leone, on 13 May, 2007. A Barbadian poet, musician and active humanitarian, AJA, returned to Sierra Leone for a forth time to work with youth and artist groups in the country. The three recommendations which emerged as a result of this trip, AJA said, would only be successful if unity amongst the nation’s people was obtained.

Within the first 24-hours of his arrival, AJA met with senior officials of the Government of Sierra Leone and representatives of the United Nations, including the UNDP Country Director Bernard Mokam. From the Government he met with senior representatives from the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Tourism and Culture, Youth and Sports, and Education. The artist paid a courtesy call on the President of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah where his Excellency gave his approval to two of the initiatives presented by AJA.

The same day the artist presented much-needed television equipment from Barbados to the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS), which he had promised to donate on his last trip to the country.

The first initiative to emerge from the week-long visit is the appointment of ‘Peace Ambassadors’ to Sierra Leone. The concept involves empowering citizens in every sector to champion peace activities in their respective areas and institutions. These Peace Ambassadors will promote peaceful living, discourage violence and encourage respect for others. The programme, which was successfully introduced in Barbados in January 2006, will be piloted in six Freetown schools in September on AJA’s return to Freetown.

The second initiative takes the form of The Sierra Leone Arts Festival (SLAF). The primary objective of this initiative is to stimulate the entire society by encouraging artistic expression in every sector - from dance to drama, and song to crafts. SLAF will begin as a series of competitions which will see villages come together to compete against one another. The artists will first compete at the provincial level, with winners in each category of art continuing to the National Finals. “The festival will be a democratic process that will involve many people,” AJA told the press. “It will have a significantly positive and dynamic impact on the country’s art and economy.”

The final initiative which came out of the visit was the recommendation of an Agricultural Revolution. The artist suggested that youths be mobilised to work in agriculture, to reduce unemployment and the rate of goods imported into Sierra Leone, which the country can itself produce. “Sierra Leoneans can and must achieve food self-sufficiency,” AJA told the press.

The United Nations Development Programme and the Government of Sierra Leone’s National Communication Strategy, who coordinated AJA’s visit, will manage the progress of the three initiatives. AJA believes the success of these projects will help the country realise its full potential. He called for total unity in Sierra Leone for these initiatives to take affect; “unity among the Government, private sector, youths and all facets of society.”