1 Andrew Benson Greene iEARN Sierra Leone- Child Soldiers PROJECT.

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Andrew Benson Greene

iEARN Sierra Leone- Child Soldiers

PROJECT

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ABOUT MEABOUT ME• Born in Sierra Leone - Civil War resulted in separation of Born in Sierra Leone - Civil War resulted in separation of

12,000 children from their families, kidnapped and forced to 12,000 children from their families, kidnapped and forced to become soldiersbecome soldiers

• In 1997, I was secretary General of the Fourah Bay College In 1997, I was secretary General of the Fourah Bay College Students Union Government, and became a target. Students Union Government, and became a target.

• I fled to neighboring Guinea where I taught English to I fled to neighboring Guinea where I taught English to displaced children and refugeesdisplaced children and refugees

• In 1999, I joined iEARN, a non-profit global network that In 1999, I joined iEARN, a non-profit global network that enables young people to use the Internet and other new enables young people to use the Internet and other new technologies to engage in collaborative educational projectstechnologies to engage in collaborative educational projects

• I decided to dedicate my life to serving and teaching I decided to dedicate my life to serving and teaching children who were brutalized by the violence all around children who were brutalized by the violence all around themthem

• My commitment prompted me to form the national branch My commitment prompted me to form the national branch of iEARN in Sierra Leone with mostly Canadian support of iEARN in Sierra Leone with mostly Canadian support

• Now - I am a volunteer educator for the iEARN Sierra Now - I am a volunteer educator for the iEARN Sierra Leone Project, where I work to help youth communicate Leone Project, where I work to help youth communicate with others throughout the world.with others throughout the world.

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About My projectAbout My project• The project helps to bThe project helps to bridge the digital divide in Sierra ridge the digital divide in Sierra

Leone through IT education to youth, and links Sierra Leone through IT education to youth, and links Sierra Leone youth with others around the world to share in Leone youth with others around the world to share in online educational projectsonline educational projects – The project engages war-affected youths/students in a variety of The project engages war-affected youths/students in a variety of

art forms; music, creative writing, enabling them use the internet art forms; music, creative writing, enabling them use the internet to share these unique talents. to share these unique talents.

– Children affected by the war are taught useful IT skills and work Children affected by the war are taught useful IT skills and work together with other young children from all over the world on together with other young children from all over the world on relevant social issues using the Internet.relevant social issues using the Internet.

– Youth are engaged in Peace building campaigns and human rights Youth are engaged in Peace building campaigns and human rights on-line on-line

I I also believe that child soldiers and children/youth affected by the also believe that child soldiers and children/youth affected by the

war can become ambassadors for peace by exchanging their war can become ambassadors for peace by exchanging their ideas with other people of the same age from all over the world ideas with other people of the same age from all over the world by means of telecommunication. by means of telecommunication. This does not just promote This does not just promote learning, but also social justice and inspires a positive learning, but also social justice and inspires a positive

exchange because child victims of war can play a exchange because child victims of war can play a significant role in creating peace in their own villages and significant role in creating peace in their own villages and

townstowns..

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About My projectAbout My project• The project identifies and builds the talents The project identifies and builds the talents

of youth in a medley of art forms, such as of youth in a medley of art forms, such as music, creative writing, dance drama, videos, music, creative writing, dance drama, videos, and computer games, all geared towards and computer games, all geared towards psychosocial rehabilitationpsychosocial rehabilitation and a chance and a chance for youth to mingle, socialize and interact for youth to mingle, socialize and interact with each other in a friendly atmosphere. with each other in a friendly atmosphere.

• In so doing, the project builds the In so doing, the project builds the self-esteem self-esteem of youthof youth emerging from wars by providing emerging from wars by providing them an outlet to build their skills and learn them an outlet to build their skills and learn ICT skillsICT skills in a safe, secure and alternative in a safe, secure and alternative learning environment – ultimately displaying learning environment – ultimately displaying the potential that war affected youth havethe potential that war affected youth have

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How do ICTs help my How do ICTs help my project?project?

The The use of ICT is a means by which the use of ICT is a means by which the youth can share their unique talents, youth can share their unique talents, while at the same time use ICT skills to while at the same time use ICT skills to work together with peers from all over work together with peers from all over the world to discuss relevant social the world to discuss relevant social issues issues

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Where are we now?Where are we now?• More than 850 youth who have been trained so farMore than 850 youth who have been trained so far

are now profitably engagedare now profitably engaged in various places and in various places and many are helping the community in services related many are helping the community in services related to ICT. to ICT.

• These youth have gone ahead to These youth have gone ahead to replicate the replicate the program in their communitiesprogram in their communities by engaging in civic by engaging in civic participation and creating ICT clubs, modeled from participation and creating ICT clubs, modeled from the iEARN initiatives.the iEARN initiatives.

• The youth now The youth now gain gain community acceptancecommunity acceptance which was lacking in the which was lacking in the past.- it demonstrates past.- it demonstrates that that former child soldiers former child soldiers and war affected youth and war affected youth can play active and can play active and rewarding roles in their rewarding roles in their community. community.

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ImpactsImpacts• After acquiring certificates of merit from the After acquiring certificates of merit from the

successful completion of software and successful completion of software and hardware application programs, the youth hardware application programs, the youth are recommended to a few offices to assist are recommended to a few offices to assist in training staff on computer software in training staff on computer software programsprograms– In turn, they receive stipends for services In turn, they receive stipends for services

delivered.delivered.

• Additionally, those with proven capabilities Additionally, those with proven capabilities to address hardware problems gain to address hardware problems gain apprenticeship to IT staff and supplement apprenticeship to IT staff and supplement their efforts in the event of the staff being their efforts in the event of the staff being unavoidably absent.unavoidably absent.– In turn, they offer training to other youth within In turn, they offer training to other youth within

the iEARN centrethe iEARN centre

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ImpactsImpacts

• Trained youth are also sent to help in the Trained youth are also sent to help in the establishment of centres in new locations establishment of centres in new locations around the country where iEARN Sierra Leone around the country where iEARN Sierra Leone has done feasibility studies in the past, and has done feasibility studies in the past, and identified potential for expansion.identified potential for expansion.– Interestingly, the youth sent there hail from these Interestingly, the youth sent there hail from these

regions prior to their induction as child soldiers, and regions prior to their induction as child soldiers, and return to their places of origin to kick-start the return to their places of origin to kick-start the program with the aid of other teacher facilitators. program with the aid of other teacher facilitators.

– Once there, they are provided a few PC's and iEARN Once there, they are provided a few PC's and iEARN tries to attract community support so that the youth tries to attract community support so that the youth who have acted against their community during the who have acted against their community during the war can be seen in a new light and gain acceptance. war can be seen in a new light and gain acceptance.

– In reality, they now bring hope to other youth through In reality, they now bring hope to other youth through imparting skills and also getting self-employed when imparting skills and also getting self-employed when charged with some roles. charged with some roles.

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SustainabilitySustainability

• IEARN derives its financial support in the past IEARN derives its financial support in the past and in recent times through donations from and in recent times through donations from individuals, organizations, awards, fund- individuals, organizations, awards, fund- raising in a local and international level by raising in a local and international level by individuals and groups, after office hours user individuals and groups, after office hours user fees paid by non-iEARN Sierra Leone students fees paid by non-iEARN Sierra Leone students and youth. and youth.

• Our major finances have come from War Child Our major finances have come from War Child Canada, and some other financial support Canada, and some other financial support came from the WH Day Elementary School in came from the WH Day Elementary School in Bradford, Ontario, iEARN Canada, iEARN Bradford, Ontario, iEARN Canada, iEARN USA.USA.

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SustainabilitySustainability• The ICT centres are equipped with necessary furniture The ICT centres are equipped with necessary furniture

and gadgets to run at subsidized cost. and gadgets to run at subsidized cost. • It is well managed and maintained regularly so that it It is well managed and maintained regularly so that it

can continue serving the communities permanently. can continue serving the communities permanently. • Through iEARN Sierra Leone, professional and Through iEARN Sierra Leone, professional and

development components include the training and development components include the training and recruitment of teacher facilitators, who are equipped recruitment of teacher facilitators, who are equipped with relevant ICT knowledge and skills that can be used with relevant ICT knowledge and skills that can be used for the benefit of the war affected youth and building for the benefit of the war affected youth and building capacities of the target beneficiaries beyond the project capacities of the target beneficiaries beyond the project timeline.timeline.

• The centre subsidizes - at non-youth training hours - The centre subsidizes - at non-youth training hours - internet access and desktop publishing services to the internet access and desktop publishing services to the public and small user fees to non-members for on-going public and small user fees to non-members for on-going sustenance, such as fueling of generator and sustenance, such as fueling of generator and maintenance cost. maintenance cost.

• The services of volunteers and trained youth additionally The services of volunteers and trained youth additionally help to give more impetus to the program. help to give more impetus to the program.

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Our PartnersOur Partners• iEARN CanadaiEARN Canada has been technically supporting the initiative by has been technically supporting the initiative by

hosting and collaborating with the hosting and collaborating with the www.childsoldiers.orgwww.childsoldiers.org project. project.

• iEARN USAiEARN USA is a parent body that provides moral and technical is a parent body that provides moral and technical assistance, serving as a source of reference for the program. assistance, serving as a source of reference for the program.

• War Child CanadaWar Child Canada has partnered with iEARN Sierra Leone on has partnered with iEARN Sierra Leone on the DFAIT funded project ‘No War Zone’ and provided some the DFAIT funded project ‘No War Zone’ and provided some financial support to connect the centre. financial support to connect the centre.

• Computer Aid International UKComputer Aid International UK has provided computers for the has provided computers for the pilot phase of the project and iEARN has also served as a pilot phase of the project and iEARN has also served as a source of reference proving the efficacy of the second-hand PC source of reference proving the efficacy of the second-hand PC supplied. supplied.

• The project has also partnered with schools such s The project has also partnered with schools such s WH WH elementary schoolelementary school, in ‘Children Connecting Children for Peace’ , in ‘Children Connecting Children for Peace’ which deals with online interaction so that Canadian youth can which deals with online interaction so that Canadian youth can connect with youth of Sierra Leone to discuss peaceful connect with youth of Sierra Leone to discuss peaceful solutions to conflict. solutions to conflict.

• The Ministry of Youth and SportsThe Ministry of Youth and Sports in Sierra Leone has provided in Sierra Leone has provided moral assistance as well as the current space to house the moral assistance as well as the current space to house the gadgets for youth participation.gadgets for youth participation.

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Scaling UpScaling UpMy vision for the project is to equip communities in the 12 districts My vision for the project is to equip communities in the 12 districts

of Sierra Leone with ICT for young people in the rural towns and of Sierra Leone with ICT for young people in the rural towns and Urban districts to gain valuable skills. Urban districts to gain valuable skills.

• Named ‘The iEARN Sierra Leone Youth Centre for Information Named ‘The iEARN Sierra Leone Youth Centre for Information and Technology’, and Technology’, the centers will have computers, internet the centers will have computers, internet facilities, video and music editing, and production rooms. facilities, video and music editing, and production rooms. – The centres would become the The centres would become the main hubsmain hubs from which the 12 from which the 12

districts can rely for technical support and reference. districts can rely for technical support and reference. – It would be dedicated to youth who have endured war and its It would be dedicated to youth who have endured war and its

effect in Sierra Leone.effect in Sierra Leone.• The program will seek potentials donors, collaborating partners to The program will seek potentials donors, collaborating partners to

assist with financial and technical support to scale up the project.assist with financial and technical support to scale up the project.• The The program plans to promote peace education in the local school program plans to promote peace education in the local school

curriculumcurriculum and provide an and provide an outlet for young people to interact outlet for young people to interact online on issues of promoting peace and global understanding online on issues of promoting peace and global understanding – Includes the Includes the publication of a bookpublication of a book comprising of the current comprising of the current

peace situation in Sierra Leone through the writings provided peace situation in Sierra Leone through the writings provided by iEARN youth and their counterparts around the world.by iEARN youth and their counterparts around the world.

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ConstraintsConstraints

• At first when we got started, the community failed At first when we got started, the community failed to see our vision and considered the youth as no to see our vision and considered the youth as no good, due to their involvement in the war. good, due to their involvement in the war.

• Through dogged efforts we were able to convince Through dogged efforts we were able to convince the community that these youth can make a the community that these youth can make a difference by using ICT and the program gradually difference by using ICT and the program gradually gained community acceptance which was visibly gained community acceptance which was visibly lacking. lacking.

• Due to the constraints of accessing the technology Due to the constraints of accessing the technology in the past, I often took my students and war in the past, I often took my students and war affected youth from the outskirts of the capital by affected youth from the outskirts of the capital by bus, then walked long distances and queued up bus, then walked long distances and queued up with them in a cyber café to give them some time with them in a cyber café to give them some time on the Internet. on the Internet. – The time was used to showcase the students work on The time was used to showcase the students work on

www.childsoldiers.orgwww.childsoldiers.org

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Lessons Learned, Lessons Learned, InsightsInsights

• I knew that in order for the program to kick-off in I knew that in order for the program to kick-off in earnest, it would need community acceptance, and earnest, it would need community acceptance, and so it was registered through the Ministry of youth so it was registered through the Ministry of youth and Sports, and the Sierra Leone association of and Sports, and the Sierra Leone association of NGO. NGO.

• I lobbied together with partners at iEARN USA and I lobbied together with partners at iEARN USA and iEARN Canada to convince Computer Aid iEARN Canada to convince Computer Aid International in UK that youth of iEARN Sierra International in UK that youth of iEARN Sierra Leone can be the change when they can learn Leone can be the change when they can learn practical ICT skills. practical ICT skills.

• The supply of 10 computers created much The supply of 10 computers created much encouragement for the expansion and recognition of encouragement for the expansion and recognition of the program. Hundreds of youth in the communities the program. Hundreds of youth in the communities and schools began to flock in and gained skills - and schools began to flock in and gained skills - which drifted their minds from idleness and the which drifted their minds from idleness and the perpetration of mayhem.perpetration of mayhem.

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Wish listWish list

• Governments , civil society must create more Governments , civil society must create more opportunities for youth, like building centres opportunities for youth, like building centres for both educational and recreational for both educational and recreational purposes. purposes.

• Creating employment opportunities for youth Creating employment opportunities for youth in ICT sectors through provision of the tools in ICT sectors through provision of the tools to capacitate youth for self-engagement and to capacitate youth for self-engagement and self-employment, and even real job roles. self-employment, and even real job roles.

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Thank youThank you