The Sierra Leone WarTrust for Children slwt

1. The Sierra Leone WarTrust for Childrenwww.slwt.org The role of the Diaspora in Reconstruction and Development: The Case of Sierra Leone War Trust Presentation to Africa Diaspora Investment Forum Week Georgina Akibo-Betts, Coordinator, SLWT 13th September 2005

2. Contents • Introduction • Sierra Leone and the Legacy of War • Formation of SLWT • Our Role in Reconstruction & Development • The Way Forward

3. Introduction 1 • Growing impact of Africans in the Diaspora • Organisations (NEPAD, CfA) are forced to review the level of their engagement with the Diaspora • AU amended its charter to "encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of the continent...” • Official records show that 3.8 million Africans have left Africa for Europe and North America, 50% of whom are qualified to tertiary and post graduate level • However, it appears that Africa is the only continent to be in economic decline despite the contributions by the Diaspora

4. Introduction 2 • Obstacles to development in Africa • Natural disasters • Pandemic diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and other childhood diseases • Corruption / Bad governance • Civil War • Migration / Brain Drain

5. Sierra Leone and the Legacy of War • Began in south in 1991 and quickly spread throughout the country • Civilians and civil infrastructure deliberately targeted • Schools, hospitals and homes destroyed • Over 1 million people internally and externally displaced • Over 50,000 people killed and many more maimed • On 6th January 1999, Freetown invaded and 3000 killed in 2 week period

6. Formation of SLWT A UK registered charity, formed by 7 Sierra Leoneans, living and working in the UK “When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers”African Proverb Formed out of the desire to make a difference and effect change in the lives of thousands of war affected children, youth and their families

7. Mission & Vision MISSION STATEMENT VISION To become an authority on the welfare of war-affected children of Sierra Leone, and securing a better future for them.

8. What We Do 1 Change can be effected on two levels: National • In order to effectively reduce poverty, there must be synergy in our intervention • SLWT works with the GOSL (relevant ministries) and other agencies • The National Commission for Social Action Act, 2001 which seeks to promote community based and demand driven and sustainable development activities leading to the alleviation of poverty and improvement in the speed, quality and impact of development initiatives • Sierra Leone’s PRSP • Our projects: • Displacement Camps - Income Generation Project • The Thuan Mathinki Community Rehabilitation (TMCR) Project • Sensitization of local communities to the benefits of building sustainable structures in education (especially of the girl child), health and income generation • Improving the capacity of community based organisations by increasing access to basic education, vocational and management training • Raising awareness on the current needs affecting Sierra Leone’s war affected communities, such as health & sanitation and the creation of opportunities for ex-combatants

9. What We Do 2 International • Campaign against conflict diamonds • Lobbying for international community involvement to stop the war • Media interviews in respect of Sierra Leone and issues relating to war affected children and youth • Raising awareness through debates, art exhibitions, seminars and fundraising events of the current needs • Complementing international strategies on development, e.g. the MDGs • Working together and effectively with Diaspora organisations such as ADVAD and SLDN, towards Africa’s development

10. Our Role in Reconstruction & Development • SLWT is a microcosm of the Diaspora’s active role in Africa’s development • We are already making significant impact on the economic, political, social and cultural, both here in the UK and in our home countries • Diaspora groups are diverse, from individuals, religious organisations, alumni organisations and NGOs • Contributions are also diverse: • Individual Support • Through remittances • Investment • Knowledge / Skills transfer • Partnerships • Collective Transfers • Investment consortia

11. Our Role in Reconstruction & Development – The Way Forward • Accessing available information through organisations such as AFFORD • African Diaspora working together with Africa to identify the real and current needs • Individuals and organisations coming together to identify areas of common interest • UK based African individuals and organisations working together (with other international African Diaspora organisations) to make a bigger impact in development • Use of successful Diasporic models • Mobilising Our Youth, in the UK and in home countries – They are the Future • Lobby the West & Home Countries to remove obstacles to development (policies on migrants rights, issues on dual nationality) • Lobby international development agencies to introduce policies that support the Diaspora’s contribution to reconstruction, development and poverty reduction in Africa