School clubs commemorate March 23

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Solomon Yarjoh

SCHOOL CLUBS COMMEMORATE MARCH 23

Fambul Tok has collaborated with school peace clubs in four districts (Moyamba, Kailahun, Koinadugu and Pujehun) to observe 30th anniversary of Sierra Leone civil conflict, which kicked off on March 23rd, 1991 in the eastern border town of Bomaru in Kailahun district

school event in progress

The main objective of working with school pupils was to facilitate dialogue between pupils and community members on the causes and effects of the war that lasted for eleven years and educate them on the benefits of peace and national cohesion.

One of the strategies for this year’s commemoration was it created space for community members, parents and other stakeholders to share stories with pupils and equally create dialogue and truth telling burn fire sessions organized by some schools. School teacher coordinators in all 16 schools took the lead by working with community members to plan different events including football matches, quiz competitions, burn fire sessions and other events to mark the day.

one of the cultural displays

In Moyamba district, Kulafai secondary school teacher coordinators organized a session for pupils. Parents, local authorities and military personnel were part of the commemoration. Other schools also organized events to mark the day.

In his remarks chairman of the program, Francis Sumaila, shared his experience on the war. He said he was captured by rebels and spent nearly three months in captivity. He explained how he suffered in the hands of the rebels, calling for “#NeverAgain” for the country to go into war. He admonished pupils to be law abiding and work with their teachers and parents to promote peace and national cohesion.

Guest speaker, Dr. Isata Mahoi, said it is very important to capture young people at this stage, adding that school pupils should respect not only their parents but also other people in their communities. She touched on tribalism as it divides a country.

She went on to state that Fambul Tok hit the nail on the head by organizing school clubs to promote peace and cohesion in the country. She warned pupils not to be involved in violence, as it will not yield dividend in the country.

burn fire session

Program Officer, Fambul Tok International Sierra Leone, Solomon Yarjoh gave a brief background on the establishment of the clubs. He said it started in 2013 when school clubs in six districts were formed. He mentioned training of teacher coordinators and the hosting of inter-schools’ quiz competitions in all districts.

He said due to the declaration of Ebola in the country in May 2014, activities were suspended and early this year Fambul Tok restarted the school programs. He mentioned that teacher coordinators in all 16 schools have been trained, adding that orientation of pupils have been done

During the school events parents and other stakeholders played vital roles as they shared experiences and admonished pupils to be obedient and show responsibilities in their studies.

In Pujehun, school pupils organized march pass and quiz competitions to mark the day. Kailahun schools also had events including burn fire session; whilst Moyamba schools held town hall meetings, football matches and burn fire events.

 

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PEJE WEST ENDORSES CHIEFDOM PLAN

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Solomon Yarjoh

The people of Peje West chiefdom in Kailahun district last Thursday,February 11,2021 unanimously accepted and validated their chiefdom plan. The event took place in Bunumbu,headquarter town of the chiefdom.

The validation process was to review documents of all 34 villages in the five sections that were collated on activities they had proposed in the People’s Planning Process for Peje West.

 

 

In his welcome address, chief Morie Musa who represented Paramount Chief and other chiefdom stakeholders said they are very pleased for such meeting.He said in the absence of other dignitaries, participants from all sections would always work with Fambul Tok to realize peace and development in the chiefdom

Giving the purpose of the gathering, Fambul Tok Kailahun District team leader said today’s event is very important as  it served as a conclusive part of the Peje West chiefdom plan.Lucia Brima said Fambul Tok selected three chiefdoms in Kailahun district to launch the People’s Planning Process, adding that Penguia, Yawei and Peje West were chosen.

Program Officer, Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone, Solomon Yarjoh said the review of  the documents is not new and it gives an opportunity to indigenes in the sections to closely look at what they have earlier put together to adjust or confirm activities.He said the PPP was initiated because of the experiences faced by communities after declaration of the war.He said a lot of opportunities were provided to help poor communities but most did not benefit because they were not fully involved in the planning and implementation stages.

He said the PPP is people’s centred as it is inclusive of everyone in villages,sections and chiefdom levels

He emphasized that it is important because participants would have their say as the final plan belongs to the people. He explained that the plan would be handed over to Local Council for active collaboration with communities

One of the mediators,Martha Bocakarie explained that the role of mediators could not be thrown under the carpet.She said had it not been the intervention of mediators in the chiefdom,there would have been a lot of problems.

Another senior chief  Alpha Swaray underscored success stories and went on to state as traditional leaders they have realized over the years that peace and unity now prevail due to the work of Fambul Tok

Participants from all five sections were divided into groups to review the plan.Adjustments and corrections were made which were captured in the final plan.The plan was unanimously accepted with thunderous applause.

At the end of the day, elections were conducted for the Chiefdom Inclusive Committee of Peje West.The CIC is co-chaired by PC Shamsu Mustapha to be assisted by Chiefdom Speaker.

Secretary General was won by Morie Mustapha.The position of Financial Secretary was won by Alpha Swaray,Treasurer is Feima Lahai.Public Relations Officers are Amie Moinina and Allieu Saffa,CIC Advisor is William Ellie and the auditor ship went to Martha Bockarie.

The first meeting of the Chiefdom Inclusive Committee will take place on February 27,2021 in Bunumbu.

 

 

 

 

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Chiefdom Peace Mothers’ Platforms to be established

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Solomon Yarjoh

The role of Peace Mothers since its establishment fourteen years ago has been tremendous in Fambul Tok operational districts in the country. Peace Mothers group was initiated due to the fact that women ,especially those that faced difficulties during the war were posing questions to Fambul Tok as to what could be done to salvage their situation.

Fambul Tok was bold to tell them that it did not have money to give anyone but will work with women so that they would work together to achieve their goals.

After the launching of the group in 2010, over 200 peace mothers groups have been formed in various sections in the country. The women have been working together to develop their communities.

In 2021, even though peace mothers are working together, there is need to create another level to link with other structures in the chiefdoms.

 

 

One of the  chiefdom  executive  formation sessions in Kasunko, Koinadugu District

In February this year, peace mothers in the various chiefdoms have started forming chiefdom level platforms to link with other structures in the chiefdoms and districts.

In Kailahun district, the formation was held in Koindu town, Kissi Teng and brought together peace mothers from all five sections in the chiefdom. They explained what they have been doing over the years and said the establishment of the chiefdom level executive was timely, as it would create a link with other platforms in the districts.

Kasunko chiefdom also organized its own formation in Fadugu town. Women and other invited guests from different sections graced the occasion past Wednesday.

In Moyamba district, Kongbora chiefdom peace mothers converged  at Bauya town and spoke on successes women continue to get for the past years.

The peace mothers had chiefdom level executives and formation exercises continue in other chiefdoms through out the month of February.

 

 

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Vital Training for Peace Mothers in Moyamba

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Solomon Yarjoh

 Capacity building to improve formal and non-formal institutions in Sierra Leone and other parts of the World is very vital to development aspirations. Since the inception of Peace Mothers, about ten years ago starting from Kailahun to other Fambul Tok’s operational areas, it has paid dividend to almost all communities as they help to mediate minor conflicts, detect issues that may destabilize them and think otherwise to reconcile people and communities.

Peace Mothers in Bauya town,Kongbora chiefdom

Facilitating leadership and competence building through training sessions for local Peace Mothers platform in conflict early warning identification as well as refresher training for local peace initiatives in mediation to strengthen their knowledge and resources while securing their access and ability to take part in consolidating peace processes. Promoting and facilitating mediation through dialogue activities and truth telling among conflict parties at grassroots level, will enable conflict transformation and sustainable peace using traditional approaches involving respected community members/ leaders. It will also provide necessary support for the empowerment of traditional peacemakers to re-establish non-violent forms of conflict resolution at community level.

A decade now since its establishment in the country, Peace Mothers continue to play active roles in their different communities to help salvage matters that may be impossible to keep people apart. Irrespective of the numerous role in pursuing activities, there are challenges they continue to face which have urged Fambul Tok, with support from African Transitional Justice Legacy Fund to step in and strengthen women in both Fakunya and Kongbora chiefdoms in the South of the country.

 

Fakunya women embraces facilitators at the end of Training in Gandorhun

Training session started off in Gandorhun town chiefdom headquarter town, a 7km road to Moyamba district town on June 19,2020.A total of sixty(60) Peace Mothers from all 11 sections in the chiefdom were present to learn from facilitators different topics including early warning signs ,mediation and reconciliation.

A staff of Fambul Tok in Kabala, Umu Hawa Conteh introduced dignitaries, including Lead Trainer, Mamusu Massaquio, who had varied experiences in conflict resolution, peace building and reconciliation. Communications Manager, Abdul Rashid and Media representative from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, James Samba was part of the team. The Moyamba team was led by Solomon Yarjoh, followed by Joseph Benjie, Sadiatu Pessima and Mary Bundu.

In her statement, Madam Conteh said it is not possible to have peace without active participation of community members, adding that without peace there is no development and unity in any gathering. She said the objective of training Peace Mothers in those two chiefdoms was to strengthen capacity of women as they work in their various communities. She added that Fambul Tok has over 200 Peace Mothers and choosing from Fakunya and Kongbora chiefdoms must have emanated from issues that had to do with conflicts and other specifications.

Lead Trainer, Mamusu Massaquoi took the podium and introduced topics that women may benefit from during the session. She said rural women should be involved  in conflict resolution, mediation and reconciliation especially in post-election era so that they can also contribute to bring peace and help raise development priorities.

She asked whether women understand conflict and if there are policies in the chiefdom to protect women, youth and children. It was a big surprise to answer and when finally it was announced almost all said it does not exist any more. Madam Massaquoi said chiefdoms should make policies to protect indigenes especially in the fight against things that may affect lives.

The trainer emphasized on how to resolve minor conflicts, how to mediate and reconcile in  most simplified ways. She said mediation is the best policy to engage varied parties that rely on  serious conflict which has no way to resolve issues.

As the session continued , Peace Mothers contributed immensely to topics that will contribute to conflict resolution, mediation and reconciliation. They expressed appreciation to Fambul Tok and ATJLF for providing such opportunities to women in that part of the country. They also suggested that training opportunities in future should include micro-credit gestures, financial support to women groups in small scale businesses and adult literacy for Peace Mothers.

The Peace Mothers were divided into 4 groups for role plays on things they have learnt from facilitators. Before the exercise went on Solomon Yarjoh made a quick display  on mediation to help guide participants as they went into groups.

Group I dealt with conflict resolution and brought important things women should embark on in dealing with the topic. Some of the things they suggested include, level of interventions through constant engagement, siting positions, neutrality, confidentiality etc

Group 2:Early warning signs was dealt with on closure of public market places to avert Covid 19.  A appropriate and timely intervention providing accurate and timely information was role played

Group 3:Mediation role play was seen as the most valued enterprise as participants emphasized that conflicting parties should remain silent while actions were going on. Neutrality was seen as key to mediation processes

Group 4: Dealtwith community reconciliation. It touched on land dispute but participants investigated and went to the scene of crime, knowing fully well the background of the conflict

Feedback on the training process was proudly accepted by all participants from the chiefdom. More facilitations are expected to be done in the whole district.

The following day, Fambul Tok District staff led the team to Bauya town in the Kongbora chiefdom to continue the training process.

Chiefdom Speaker, Solomon Samu Kangaju welcomed participants and opened the forum for the exercise to kick off. He said women in his chiefdom continue to play active roles in minimizing crimes and other forms of violence in the whole chiefdom. He urged participants to listen and share whatever they acquired to their communities.

Umu Hawa Conteh started off by asking participants to identify conflicts. Participants actively intervened and gave examples of conflicts in their various communities and how they have managed to handle issues. She introduced Fambul Tok’s staff and the team from Freetown. She encouraged Peace Mothers to be steadfast in various activities and to help avert problems in their communities, including the use of face to face methods of resolving issues.

Trainer Mamusu Massaquoi took the floor and said women are great pillars of development in communities. She encouraged them not to be put behind the scenes as it used to be,  but to be involved in active engagements to resolve conflicts in the chiefdom. She said women are vulnerable but very powerful when fully engaged in most community services. She explained the qualities of good mediators such as honesty, being a good role models  and serve as pillars of strengthen.

The Bauya session was interactive as Peace Mothers from all ten sections participated.

Before the women were divided into four groups various topics like conflict resolution, mediation, early warning signs and reconciliation were flagged.

The Peace Mothers were divided into groups:

Group 1: Dealt with conflict resolution and settled marital problems. They  were also advised to always use agreement to resolve issues

Group 2:A role play was staged to mediate between sisters on a piece of land. They were told an agreement must be sort to settle matters easily. They were told as mediators they must not be one sided and should use multiple approaches when mediation wants to fail

Group 3:Reconciliation was used as essentials to development. They were told they should  listen attentatively before attempting to embark on peace building efforts

Group 4:This dealt with Early warning signs to prevent potential conflict

At the end of the whole exercise in the feedback session  it came out loud that the training was good and empowered all of them

Future training highlighted included empowerment of women in business enterprises and involvement of male counterparts in training exercises

 

 

 

 

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Government ends 2days confab

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Solomon Yarjoh

 Government holds two-day confab on the Wan Fambul National Framework

The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning; Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development under the supervision of the Office of the Vice President and its partners opens a 2-day workshop in Freetown to define a focused effort in the next 6 months to put in place the structures, systems and processes that support the roll out of the Wan Fambul National Framework.

 

The retreat, from the 16th to 17th June 2020 at the Home Suite Hotel in Freetown, supported by Fambul Tok and Catalyst for Peace focused on two-fold objectives to define a Strategic Visioning and develop an operational plan for the rollout of the People’s Planning Process (PPP) over the medium to long term; and develop a fund-raising strategy for the solicitation of funding towards the operationalization of the national rollout process.

The minister of Development Francis Kai Kai in opening the forum hailed the WANF as a model for national development and said:

 

“I am especially happy that we are today starting to effectively implement the post-2019 UN General Assembly’s agreed actions on taking forward the roll-out of the Wan Fambul Framework across the 16 districts and 190 chiefdoms of Sierra Leone. The relevance of this model had convinced the Government of Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio to capture it in the Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan (2019-2023), under Cluster Four, “Governance and Accountability for Results”.

 

He thanked Fambul Tok and the Catalyst for Peace, including other his colleague Minister’s for the process in becoming a reality.

 

In her statement, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Melrose Kargbo, said the WFNF was deeply linked to the residual Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendation around peace building and national transformation. She said Government remained committed to the process and would support and facilitate the institutionalization of the framework.

 

John Caulker, the Executive Director of Fambul Tok, said that the framework would facilitate an inclusive, community-centered, rural sustainable development leading to resilient and cohesive communities across Sierra Leone. He said the framework would address the critical issues of National Development, through a People’s Planning Process.

 

Libby Hoffman, the President for the Catalyst for Peace, in her statement, through a Zoom video link, explained the global significance of the role Fambul Tok played, noting peace should be built from the inside out and creating the space for those impacted by the violence to lead in the building of peace. She said this would help the world learn from their stories.

 

The retreat was followed by a Technical session on governance establishments, which includes the steering, technical committees and Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, the Governance Adviser to President, moderated secretariat.

 

 

The planning workshop brought together 16 key practitioners in the fields of Governance and development as well as representatives of Government and practitioners who piloted this initiative. The facilitators, including Dr. Sheka Bangura, Director of Planning, Research and Policy, MoPED, Momoh Turay, Technical Adviser to the MoPED, and Patrick Zombo  took them through the process of establishing the WFNF, WFNF Secretariat, Steering Committee, Review post-2019 UNGA conclusion/action on WFNF, Rollout, engagement of 16 district councils with a view to incorporating the WFF; and developing fundraising strategy for the WFNF rollout.

 

 

 

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