West Africa Program Update

Program OverviewSierra Leone:

Talking Drum Studio

12 regular programs3 studio locations

Community Peacebuilding Unit

YouthCommunity RadioPeace Carnivals and Tours

Liberia:Talking Drum Studio

12 regular programs

TINAMENIMA (Community Services Unit)

Peace and Reconciliation WorkshopsDrama Outreach

Sierra Leone Case Study:Makeni Peace Carnival

December 30, 2002-January 1, 2003

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

BackgroundMakeni—former RUF stronghold, with large excombatant populationSFCG-SL holds outreach events to promote partnership and peacebuilding and develop local capacity

Annual Peace Carnival in Bo every EasterSteady Bongo Peace Tour (2)Makeni wanted a similar event

Coalition of Planners:National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, and ReintegrationThe PoliceThe ArmyThe Drivers’ AssociationThe Cassette Sellers’ AssociationSierra Leone Teachers UnionRadio ManknehSeveral Youth Groups

Established Action Committees

Organizing–overall planning, coordination and implementationGrounds–demarcation of field for boothsSecurity–made up of Police, Army, youth, and community membersFinance–proceeds from the gatesTicket–sales of tickets Publicity–posters, banners, and advertising

Purpose of committees

The committees established local ownership of and responsibility for the event

Provided community-based direction to strategyDeveloped local capacity

Each committee had representatives of various stakeholders

Together the stakeholders developed a theme for the peace carnival:Maintaining Law and Order in a

Post-conflict Society

Carnival Components

5 drama troupes7 cultural groups36 boothsSteady Bongo and the Cultural HeroesLive broadcastingRehabilitation of field hosting the event

Issues Addressed Law and orderDomestic violenceLocal government structuresRole of media in conflict resolutionViolence in schools and sportsHIV/AIDSLocal Partnership Board-roles and responsibilities

Local Partnership Board (LPB)Established as a community-based organizationLPB received 80% of the revenue from the eventRevenue to be used for a community development projectReport to the community required on how much money was used on what to ensure transparency and accountability

Hugely Successful!

20,000 people attended

10Million Leones generated

15 local organizations involved3 days of festivities, 14 hours a day1000’s of kudos!

Liberia Case Study:Bong County Peace and Reconciliation Workshop

October 31-November 10, 2002

Background3rd in a series of workshops between ethnic groups in Liberia’s southeastern countiesEthnicity has been exploited by political factionsLofa County conflict has largely been fueled by ethnicity

this series is to prevent a similar occurrence in the southeast

Workshops HeldMarch 2001

Sinoe County: Sarpos and Krus

March 2002Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties: Gios, Manos and Krahns

October-November 2002Bong County: Gios, Manos, Kpelles, Lormas, and Mandingos

Targeted Counties

October 2002

March 2002

March 2001

October-November Workshop

Originally scheduled for early summer, but delayed by politically-driven ethnic tension against MandingosFormat:

3 small plenary workshops: each between Mandingos and one other ethnic groupFinal large workshop among all participating ethnic groups

Purpose of the Plenary SessionsIdentified and defined the conflictConfronted immediate distrust and suspicion between groupsLaid groundwork for a frank discussion of issuesFacilitated the beginning development of relationships

Full WorkshopIncluded representatives

from each ethnic groupDiscussion addressed:

stereotypes negative and positive experiences with ethnic preferenceperceived qualities and characteristics of each ethnic group

TDS taped dialogue and interviews throughout to share with a national audience

Observations and ResultsDelegates came to the meeting open to discussion and genuinely seeking peaceParties took ground rules very seriously, enforcing the rules themselvesDelegates recognized that despite solid progress, only the surface on these conflicts has been touched, especially as ethnic tensions are exacerbated for political gain

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 delegationsIndicated incredible interest in building peace between ethnic groups

Fun FinaleTo wrap up the workshop, TINAMENIMA held a fun soccer match between community members, the joint security forces and local government leaders