1. War Child Holland Peacebuilding in Sierra Leone Understandings and Approaches

2. Peacebuilding War Child works towards ‘positive peace’, aiming to transform social relationships, structures and culture in a direction conducive to a reduction of root causes of social conflicts, and enhancing the capacities to manage emerging conflicts non-violently and constructively.

3. Peacebuilding Framework: ‘Deficit approach’ Psycho-social Socio-economic Intervention Level: Track 1,2,3 Military / Security Political / Institutional Educational 1 2 3 Cultural

11. WAR A DON DON the war is over WAR CHILD HOLLAND IN SIERRA LEONE

17. THE POWER WALK

21. “ In today’s world, we ought to ask children and young people for their opinions. By involving the children, we prepare them for the world of tomorrow. By involving children in activities, they learn skills such as how to speak before a group and express their opinion, and how to solve problems by discussing them.”

25. Community structure CYSS: Children and Youth Support Structure (4 Children, 4 Youths, 4 Adults) Parents Club Board of: 4 CYSS Adult members + CAG reps Youth Club Board of: 4 CYSS Youth members + CAG reps Children’s Club Board of: 4 CYSS Child members + CAG reps + 2 Adults Cultural Community Action Group 1 Club rep + Active volunteers Drama Community Action Group 1 Club rep + Active volunteers Sports Community Action Group 1 Club rep + Active volunteers Arts Community Action Group 1 Club rep + Active volunteers … Community Action Group 1 Club rep + Active volunteers

26. In times gone by, our parents did not protect us. If adults saw children going to dangerous places, like into the jungle, they would only laugh. Their attitude was one of “I don’t care”. Parents did not look out for their children, and certainly not for children who where not their biological children. Things are different now, because parents are showing that they care about us”.

27. “ Adults now pass on their knowledge to us. They not only teach us how to play the Boo-Boo flute and how to drum, but also how to get a group together and then lead it. Children and young people are now very much involved in planning and carrying out community activities”

28. “ The war has made our people violent. Children and young people stopped going to school and started playing in the jungle instead, fighting each other with sticks and bottles. No-one had any control over them. Adults were not aware of the negative effects of the situation. Parents also set a bad example by fighting each other on almost a daily basis while their children were present.”

29. “ If we act respectfully, the people in our community know that we are being properly brought up. Our parents can then be proud of us, and we are asked to take part in community activities. This generates peace and unity, not only in the family, but in the community as well. We have a saying: ‘If children wash their hands, they can eat at the village chief’s table’.”

30. “ Now that there is more peace in the communities and adults are no longer each others enemies, they are able to pay more attention to children, whether these are their own biological children or not. Neighbors help children when they are ill by taking them to the hospital, even if the parents are not around. And our parents no longer hit us now that the message has been spread about maltreating children and children’s rights”.

31. “ There is now more cohesion in our community because we have come together and have started organizing cultural festivals. Nowadays, residents of nearby villages are friendly towards us. In contrast to how things used to be, when such cultural dance activities were characterized by violence, they now end peacefully.”

32. QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION