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World tragedy abounds but Africa’s still hurting
Television personality DERMOT O’LEARY and his father Sean report on a visit to
Sierra Leone to see the work done there by the charity CAFOD. But they fear now their trip may have been in vain as the Indian Tsunami hits the headlines.
Like me, I suspect you donate to charities without an awareness of the projects, partnerships and programmes your money helps to fund. So when we were invited by CAFOD to visit Sierra Leone in West Africa to see the work being undertaken by CAFOD’s partner CARITAS in the Diocese of Mekeni, we were delighted to accept.
Sierra Leone is a country of some five million people. It has just emerged from a horrific civil war, which lasted the better part of 10 years, and only ceased in 2002. It devastated the economic, civil and social life of the country. The health service, education system and infrastructure were totally disrupted. Even now only 30 per cent of children go to school, there is no electricity or running water and the road system is practically non existent.
Throughout the war, thousands of people were subjected to terrible hardships — none more so than children. The most telling effect of war even now is evident in children, especially in the kidnapped boys and girls who formed a large part of the combatants in the rebel armies. CAFOD’s partnership projects centre on the mental, economic and physical rehabilitation of these children, both into normal life and into their families.
We arrived in Sierra Leone accompanied by the BBC and the Daily Mirror. We had no preconceived ideas of Sierra Leone or what life was like. We were shocked however in that daily life for everyone is a struggle just to survive. There are no jobs and most people eke out a living by trading or bartering what little they have.
Daily life in the traditional African village begins at dawn with the children sweeping up the village and the women lighting the outdoor fires to cook the evening meal. The whole village would eat together after a day spent in the fields. Selling their crops is no easy matter given the unfair trade conditions governing world markets. Subsidised US and European farmers easily undercut the price of local produce, and flood Africa with cheap produce. The terms of free trade agreements are massively biased against Africans and are a major inhibitor to self-development in Africa.
Our visit to see the work CAFOD is doing with former child soldiers was inspiring. These boys and girls suffered from the traumas of war. The psychological impact of war has left marks and the CAFOD works to rehabilitate these children into both normal life and reuniting them with their families. This is not easy, these children were kidnapped and forced to commit horrendous acts of brutality. Many of the young girls are child mothers. CAFOD provide education and skills training.
To see the enthusiasm shown in the carpentry, weaving, dressmaking, and electronics classes is wonderful. The children we spoke to knew the value of education and training and were so appreciative of the opportunity CAFOD was providing.
The programmes also allowed for a little start up capital on qualification for young people wanting to start their own businesses. We witnessed a group of enthusiastic carpenters who had formed a business and were busily engaged on a project to complete 60 benches ordered by the local church.
Although most schools were damaged during the war primary education is returning, and pupils walk miles just to get to school. Class sizes of 60/70 make rote learning the norm and resources are scarce. Gifts of pencils, pens and paper were inadequate given the need. Only 30 per cent of children attend school, and although education is free, school attendance is by no means a cost free option. Uniforms, travel and food are an expense most families cannot afford.
Our night spent in a traditional village with the Limba people gave us an insight into how people live in rural Sierra Leone. They are a most generous and welcoming people. We were greeted with an amazing dance of welcome by the whole village and shown around the village, fields and crops by the Chief.
Although Sierra Leone is 90 per cent Muslim, the Limba people are all Catholic, a fact not unconnected with their partiality for palm wine and the Muslim attitude to alcohol. Sierra Leone is an example to the world of religious tolerance. Muslims and Christians live side by side in perfect harmony and frequently celebrate feast days and attend religious ceremonies together.
Another powerful enabler to rehabilitation is sport. We brought 10 footballs, which were very welcome, and some trophies, which we presented after a great match between boy soldiers and a Caritas Makeni team. Dermot guested for the latter and made some telling runs but no transfer offers were received
The health Service is rudimentary and puts into perspective the services we have here. We spent some time with the only doctor in Makeni, Patrick Turey. He is inspirational. His workload would sink a lesser person. He is the only doctor for 100,000 people. With three nurses he has a small clinic consisting of nine beds although a GP he undertakes all types of operations two nights a week, and treats all conditions except AIDS and cancer where he cannot help due to inadequate facilities. He is also constrained by lack of effective modern drugs.
On the positive side the Diocese of Ancona in Italy is building a 70-bed modern hospital for him with X-ray and ultrasound facilities. This is due to finish in December and Dr Patrick is looking forward to it, but as he said: “it will still be me and the three nurses”. Incidentally Sierra Leone produces 10 doctors each year, eight of who go abroad to take up more lucrative offers.
Our impression of CAFOD was high before our trip, but even higher afterwards. The work they do is tremendous, and the commitment of the people both at home and in the field is astonishing. We met some inspirational people in Sierra Leone, people like Joe Turey who is CAFOD’s representative in Sierra Leone who is a larger than life character who makes things happen, Michael and Mamuna who run Caritas Makeni and who work every day of the year, Bishop Biguzzi who is a very friendly Italian, his Diocese of Makeni is enormous covering the northern half of the country. He is a hero with Sierra Leonean Catholics as he stayed with the people throughout the war and negotiated the demobilisation of the child soldiers. The Bishop was so grateful to CAFOD (and also to Trocaire) and wanted his thanks passed on to all CAFOD supporters in Britain and Ireland whose contributions enabled such good work.
The people are also tremendous, they are very positive despite the poverty and hardships of the past. Sierra Leone now needs a period of stability and help from the International community on debt relief and fair trade. We in Britain and Ireland can do our bit next year by supporting the campaign to Make Poverty History. CAFOD is a main driver behind the campaign. 2005 is an opportune year as Britain will chair the G8 and also assume Presidency of the EU putting it in a unique position to influence world attitudes and to instigate proper help for Africa. So that once and for all we can make a difference to the lives of people who in this day and age should not be living in the conditions we saw in Sierra Leone.
One final story which I think indicates the initiative and potential for achievement within the people. On a trip from the Airport to Makeni, some 250kms, we hit an enormous pothole resulting in the front wheel of our 4x4 pointing to the sky and the axle shaft broken. A passing United Nations vehicle delivered the passengers to their destination, leaving the driver stranded in the bush. This happened at 10.00pm. By 10.00am the next morning the vehicle was repaired and ready to roll. What are the chances of that happening in Britain or Ireland?
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