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Communities in Sierra Leone: Finding Hope After Conflict Whitney McIntyre Miller
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WHITNEY MCINTYRE MILLERCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY
JULY 27, 2009
Communities in Sierra Leone: Finding Hope After
Conflict
Purpose of Presentation
Demonstrate how communities in the northern region of Sierra Leone are finding hope and beginning to reemerge from an extended, disastrous period in its history through an examination of agentive, cultural, and structural key factors.
Data Collection
Five-week fieldwork in Sierra Leone (Lungi and Makeni communities)
In-depth qualitative interviews with 14 individuals in each community (based on purposeful demographic sampling)
Participant ObservationInformal conversations and meetings
STATSTICS:Republic of Sierra Leone President: Ernest Koroma (2007)Land area: 27,653 sq mi (71,621 sq km); total area: 27,699 sq mi (71,740 sq km)Population (2007 est.): 6,144,562 (growth rate: 2.3%); birth rate: 45.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 158.3/1000; life expectancy: 40.6; density per sq mi: 222Languages: English (official), Mende (southern vernacular), Temne (northern vernacular), Krio (lingua franca)Ethnicity/race: 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%); Creole (Krio) 10%; refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and IndiansReligions: Islam 60%, indigenous 30%, Christian 10%Literacy rate: 35.1% (2004 est.)Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $3.971 billion; per capita $700.
The Roots of the Conflict in Sierra Leone
Roots of Conflict in Sierra Leone Control of resources- diamonds Issues of power in local and national government Disenchanted youth
Overview of Conflict
Attacks on communities Fleeing of people Burning and looting of houses Amputations
Involvement from international communityPush of rebels into the northFormal peace agreement and cessation of
violenceCommunity building postconflict
Research Findings Organization
‘Mediational System’ of Reflexivity (Datnow, Hubbard, and Mehan, 2002) Agentive Factors
Individual’s Actions Cultural Factors
Traditions and Practices Structural Factors
Social Constructs
Culture
Structure Agency
Agentive Factors for Hope
Traditional Leadership (Chief Structure)Community LeadersDistrict Governmental LeadershipNational Governmental LeadershipWomen (Makeni only)
Cultural Factors for Hope
Agriculture/Farming PracticesBusiness PartnershipsCommunity Meeting SpacesCommunity Groups and
Informal AssociationsSportsTraditional CeremoniesTraditional SocietiesAvoidance of Community Disputes
Structural Factors for Hope
Army and PoliceConstructionEducation (including skills training)InfrastructureInternational AssistanceJobsLocal NGOsMass Media (Makeni only)Religious Assistance
Lessons For Other Communities
Involve local and traditional leaders and citizens in rebuilding physical and social capital
Encourage informal and formal community groups, cooperatives, and organizations to work together
Tap into traditional norms, activities, and events that bring people together
Meet educational needs for the community’s future
Future Research
Wider net of communities in northern region of Sierra Leone
Comparison with communities in eastern and southern regions of Sierra Leone
Comparison with other postconflict communities around the world
