Fighting for peace in Sierra Leone

In the wake of a brutal decade-long civil war, children and young people in Sierra Leone are finding ways to leave bad memories behind and look forward to a peaceful future.

Salamatu jumps high with joy during a skipping rope game with other children. Musa dribbles the ball past Abu to score a goal whilst Vandy and Manna enthusiastically hit the traditional drums and everybody dances.

These are some of the activities which are helping children forget the disturbing memories of an atrocious war.

They are supported by the School in a Box – a pack of educational and recreational supplies which enable a classroom to be set up almost anywhere. Supplied by Plan, the materials give children who have been through the trauma of war the chance to learn and play so they can begin to rebuild a normal life.

In co-operation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Plan has facilitated the incorporation of Peace Education into the curriculum for elementary school children.

Plan has also been supporting the Forum for African Women’s Educationalists (FAWE) to provide trauma counselling to girls and young women who have suffered abuse during the war. The forum has also established skills training centres to make these girls, many of whom are single mothers, self reliant.

Youth groups, such as the Network Support for Peace Education and the Peace Pals Education Network, have embarked on promoting peace and reconciliation in Moyamba through drama and comedy. They recently screened a film entitled "Quest for Peace", in communities where former combatants and victims now live side by side.

Ibrahim fled to Sierra Leone from Liberia when he was only eight years old after his father was murdered in front of him. He fought in the civil wars in both Sierra Leone and Liberia for almost 10 years.

Like many other young people previously caught up in the fighting, he now makes an active contribution to his community and has returned to education. "I want everyone in Sierra Leone to please accept the children who have been fighting and accept them back into the community,” he says.