A W.I.S.H. Sierra Leone

A. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY

Achieving food security is at the heart of Sierra Leone's poverty reduction strategy in the next three years. This is implicit in the statement of His Excellency, the President in May 2002 that "...No Sierra Leonean should go to bed hungry (by the year 2007)." In order to compliment the effort of the Government in this direction, the organization embarked on inland valley swamp rice production for food security for the members in the community and the wider region.

About 100 youth, including young men and women, were involved in this process, the cultivation of about 25 bushels of inland valley swamp rice.

At the end of this report period, the organization is now seriously engaged in the harvesting of the rice. The organization members can use part of the harvested rice for consumption, part as seed bank for the next planting season, including food for work, and part for sale at a reasonable price within the Burma community in order to replace worn-out tools.

Constraints:

B. EDUCATION

The government recognizes education as one of the most crucial instruments for reducing poverty. Education reduces poverty not only by increasing the stock of human capital and labour productivity, but also by facilitating technological advancement and thereby economic growth.

The country's literacy is among the lowest in the world. Low literacy levels create a vicious cycle of poverty, which is determined to sustain post-conflict national rebuilding and development efforts. Thus, the government strongly acknowledges that basic education is crucial to enhance economic growth, increae economic opportunities and reduce poverty.

Against this backdrop, the organization has identified trained and qualified teachers within its membership who have volunteered over the last year to provide free basic education classes at the primary level within the community. Classes are conducted free of cost for children, especially girls to help them cope with their normal school work. This assistance is geared toward achieving the millennium development goal on education - that by 2015 all Sierra Leonean children will have accessed and completed primary education without discrimination.

Constraints:

• Lack of logistic support (teaching and learning materials) to allow more pupils;
• Stipends for volunteer teachers;
• Accommodation for classes.

C. HUMAN RIGHTS

The organization supports and works with other organizations that defend and promote the rights of marginalized and advantaged community members by reporting violations and conducting civic education. For example, the organization is now a member of the Kenema district human rights committee.

Over the last year, we have been engaged in the documentation of Gross Child Rights Violation, including violation against women, etc. Our members have also undertaken a series of training in human rights monitoring reporting, Training of Trainers of the Sierra Leone Truth Reconciliation Commission Report.

Constraints:

• Inadequate training of more members;
• Reading materials on Human Rights.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - PUBLIC WORKS, ETC.

Since the formal end of the conflict in 2002, a great deal of infrastructural investment has been provided to Sierra Leone, both to Government and through NGOs. Support for the reconstruction of non social services facilities (eg.schools,and health clinics), such as roads, shelter, water and sanitation facilities, has been provided by a host of donors, including USAID, DFID, EC and World Bank, to name a few.

Despite this support, the needs far outweigh the current financial resources available from the donor community. For example, Sierra Leone presently faces a huge housing need, currently estimated at 350,000.

Our organization has been engaged in public works within the Burma community. For instance, our members were directly engaged as a direct labour force in the reconstruction of the Burma market undertaken by the Government and the World Bank. We also constructed a bridge linking Kenema Town to Burma Layout, with support from the KenemaTown Coucil. We have undertaken the layout and maintenance of proposed streets around the Burma Layout community.

Constraints:

• Working tools (shovels, wheelbarrows, machetes, headpans, axe, etc.
• Food for work.