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West Africa Program Update

West Africa Program Update. Sierra Leone: Talking Drum Studio 12 regular programs 3 studio locations Community Peacebuilding Unit Youth Community Radio Peace Carnivals and Tours. Liberia: Talking Drum Studio 12 regular programs TINAMENIMA (Community Services Unit)

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West Africa Program Update

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  1. West Africa Program Update

  2. Sierra Leone: Talking Drum Studio 12 regular programs 3 studio locations Community Peacebuilding Unit Youth Community Radio Peace Carnivals and Tours Liberia: Talking Drum Studio 12 regular programs TINAMENIMA (Community Services Unit) Peace and Reconciliation Workshops Drama Outreach Program Overview

  3. Sierra Leone Case Study:Makeni Peace Carnival December 30, 2002-January 1, 2003

  4. Makeni Peace Carnival • Objective: To provide a forum for the community to focus on growing levels of violence in Makeni: at schools, on sports fields, in homes

  5. Background • Makeni—former RUF stronghold, with large excombatant population • SFCG-SL holds outreach events to promote partnership and peacebuilding and develop local capacity • Annual Peace Carnival in Bo every Easter • Steady Bongo Peace Tour (2) • Makeni wanted a similar event

  6. Coalition of Planners: • National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration • The Police • The Army • The Drivers’ Association • The Cassette Sellers’ Association • Sierra Leone Teachers Union • Radio Mankneh • Several Youth Groups

  7. Established Action Committees • Organizing–overall planning, coordination and implementation • Grounds–demarcation of field for booths • Security–made up of Police, Army, youth, and community members • Finance–proceeds from the gates • Ticket–sales of tickets • Publicity–posters, banners, and advertising

  8. Purpose of committees • The committees established local ownership of and responsibility for the event • Provided community-based direction to strategy • Developed local capacity • Each committee had representatives of various stakeholders

  9. Together the stakeholders developed a theme for the peace carnival: Maintaining Law and Order in a Post-conflict Society

  10. Carnival Components • 5 drama troupes • 7 cultural groups • 36 booths • Steady Bongo and the Cultural Heroes • Live broadcasting • Rehabilitation of field hosting the event

  11. Issues Addressed • Law and order • Domestic violence • Local government structures • Role of media in conflict resolution • Violence in schools and sports • HIV/AIDS • Local Partnership Board-roles and responsibilities

  12. Local Partnership Board (LPB) • Established as a community-based organization • LPB received 80% of the revenue from the event • Revenue to be used for a community development project • Report to the community required on how much money was used on what to ensure transparency and accountability

  13. Hugely Successful! • 20,000 people attended • 10Million Leones generated • 15 local organizations involved • 3 days of festivities, 14 hours a day • 1000’s of kudos!

  14. Liberia Case Study:Bong County Peace and Reconciliation Workshop October 31-November 10, 2002

  15. Background • 3rd in a series of workshops between ethnic groups in Liberia’s southeastern counties • Ethnicity has been exploited by political factions • Lofa County conflict has largely been fueled by ethnicity • this series is to prevent a similar occurrence in the southeast

  16. Workshops Held • March 2001 • Sinoe County: Sarpos and Krus • March 2002 • Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties: Gios, Manos and Krahns • October-November 2002 • Bong County: Gios, Manos, Kpelles, Lormas, and Mandingos

  17. Targeted Counties March 2002 October 2002 March 2001

  18. October-November Workshop • Originally scheduled for early summer, but delayed by politically-driven ethnic tension against Mandingos • Format: • 3 small plenary workshops: each between Mandingos and one other ethnic group • Final large workshop among all participating ethnic groups

  19. Purpose of the Plenary Sessions • Identified and defined the conflict • Confronted immediate distrust and suspicion between groups • Laid groundwork for a frank discussion of issues • Facilitated the beginning development of relationships

  20. Full Workshop • Included representatives from each ethnic group • Discussion addressed: • stereotypes • negative and positive experiences with ethnic preference • perceived qualities and characteristics of each ethnic group • TDS taped dialogue and interviews throughout to share with a national audience

  21. Observations and Results • Delegates came to the meeting open to discussion and genuinely seeking peace • Parties took ground rules very seriously, enforcing the rules themselves • Delegates recognized that despite solid progress, only the surface on these conflicts has been touched, especially as ethnic tensions are exacerbated for political gain

  22. Observations and Results cont. • The group achieved maximum capacity in participation • The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Bong County’s Superintendent sent letters to all tribal governors asking that they each send 5 member delegations • Indicated incredible interest in building peace between ethnic groups

  23. Fun Finale • To wrap up the workshop, TINAMENIMA held a fun soccer match between community members, the joint security forces and local government leaders

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