WHITNEY MCINTYRE MILLER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY JULY 27, 2009 Communities in Sierra Leone: Finding Hope After Conflict

Purpose of Presentation Demonstrate how communities in the northern region of Sierra Leone are finding hope and beginning to reemerge from an extended, disastrous period in their history through an examination of agentive, cultural, and structural key factors.

Demonstrate how communities in the northern region of Sierra Leone are finding hope and beginning to reemerge from an extended, disastrous period in their history through an examination of agentive, cultural, and structural key factors.

Data Collection Five-week fieldwork in Sierra Leone (Lungi and Makeni communities) In-depth qualitative interviews with 14 individuals in each community (based on purposeful demographic sampling) Participant Observation Informal conversations and meetings

Five-week fieldwork in Sierra Leone (Lungi and Makeni communities)

In-depth qualitative interviews with 14 individuals in each community (based on purposeful demographic sampling)

Participant Observation

Informal conversations and meetings

STATSTICS: Republic of Sierra Leone President: Ernest Koroma (2007) Land area: 27,653 sq mi (71,621 sq km); total area: 27,699 sq mi (71,740 sq km) Population (2007 est.): 6,144,562 (growth rate: 2.3%); birth rate: 45.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 158.3/1000; life expectancy: 40.6; density per sq mi: 222 Languages : English (official), Mende (southern vernacular), Temne (northern vernacular), Krio (lingua franca) Ethnicity/race: 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%); Creole (Krio) 10%; refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians Religions: Islam 60%, indigenous 30%, Christian 10% Literacy rate: 35.1% (2004 est.) Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $3.971 billion; per capita $700.

The Roots of the Conflict in Sierra Leone Roots of Conflict in Sierra Leone Control of resources- diamonds Issues of power in local and national government Disenchanted youth

Roots of Conflict in Sierra Leone

Control of resources- diamonds

Issues of power in local and national government

Disenchanted youth

Overview of Conflict Attacks on communities Fleeing of people Burning and looting of houses Amputations Involvement from international community Push of rebels into the north Formal peace agreement and cessation of violence Community building postconflict

Attacks on communities

Fleeing of people

Burning and looting of houses

Amputations

Involvement from international community

Push of rebels into the north

Formal peace agreement and cessation of violence

Community building postconflict

Research Findings Organization ‘ Mediational System’ of Reflexivity (Datnow, Hubbard, and Mehan, 2002) Agentive Factors Individual’s Actions Cultural Factors Traditions and Practices Structural Factors Social Constructs Culture Structure Agency Datnow, A., Hubbard, L., & Mehan, H. (2002). Extending educational reform . London: Routledge.

‘ Mediational System’ of Reflexivity (Datnow, Hubbard, and Mehan, 2002)

Agentive Factors

Individual’s Actions

Cultural Factors

Traditions and Practices

Structural Factors

Social Constructs

Agentive Factors for Hope Traditional Leadership (Chief Structure) Community Leaders District Governmental Leadership National Governmental Leadership Women (Makeni only)

Traditional Leadership (Chief Structure)

Community Leaders

District Governmental Leadership

National Governmental Leadership

Women (Makeni only)

Cultural Factors for Hope Agriculture/Farming Practices Business Partnerships Community Meeting Spaces Community Groups and Informal Associations Sports Traditional Ceremonies Traditional Societies Avoidance of Community Disputes

Agriculture/Farming Practices

Business Partnerships

Community Meeting Spaces

Community Groups and

Informal Associations

Sports

Traditional Ceremonies

Traditional Societies

Avoidance of Community Disputes

Structural Factors for Hope Army and Police Construction Education (including skills training) Infrastructure International Assistance Jobs Local NGOs Mass Media (Makeni only) Religious Assistance

Army and Police

Construction

Education (including skills training)

Infrastructure

International Assistance

Jobs

Local NGOs

Mass Media (Makeni only)

Religious Assistance

Lessons For Other Communities Involve local and traditional leaders and citizens in rebuilding physical and social capital Encourage informal and formal community groups, cooperatives, and organizations to work together Tap into traditional norms, activities, and events that bring people together Meet educational needs for the community’s future

Involve local and traditional leaders and citizens in rebuilding physical and social capital

Encourage informal and formal community groups, cooperatives, and organizations to work together

Tap into traditional norms, activities, and events that bring people together

Meet educational needs for the community’s future

Future Research Wider net of communities in northern region of Sierra Leone Comparison with communities in eastern and southern regions of Sierra Leone Comparison with other postconflict communities around the world

Wider net of communities in northern region of Sierra Leone

Comparison with communities in eastern and southern regions of Sierra Leone

Comparison with other postconflict communities around the world

Contact Information Whitney McIntyre Miller [email_address] 619-829-4141

Whitney McIntyre Miller

[email_address]

619-829-4141