Community Sustainable Development
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proj...@kono.org.uk
May 4, 2008, 5:39:56 PM5/4/08
to Kono Community
This is where you can post project ideas, project plans, network with
other organisations, arrange project partnerships, share resources.
Debate development ideas such as; 'which is better for Kono's
sustainable development and sustainable livelihoods - mechanisation
and artificial inputs, or Fair Trade and organic farming?'
other organisations, arrange project partnerships, share resources.
Debate development ideas such as; 'which is better for Kono's
sustainable development and sustainable livelihoods - mechanisation
and artificial inputs, or Fair Trade and organic farming?'
proj...@kono.org.uk
May 4, 2008, 5:51:27 PM5/4/08
to Kono Community
Anonymous said...
The interim executive is doing a fantastic job and we all appreciate
their effort. Nonetheless,the Community must now start looking for
stable leadership in persons who want to lead in order to enable
others. We are all a 'big family' hence the truth though sometimes
painful must be said. As a family, we once refused to tell or were
scared of telling the truth and we all know the consequences. We would
not want to repeat the mistakes we made in 2004 that had such a
tremendous impact on the KDDA. The Community should be seeking
genuine, committed and forward looking leadership that resonates with
other organisations of the 21st century. Let us join hands in
strengthening the Community and the result will surely be development
and not ego, ego, ego.
Let us begin the leadership debate. What qualities do we think the
Community Leaders should have and have we got people that possess such
qualities?
Sorkai TJ
First posted on Kono Community Blog 19 April 2008 17:46
The interim executive is doing a fantastic job and we all appreciate
their effort. Nonetheless,the Community must now start looking for
stable leadership in persons who want to lead in order to enable
others. We are all a 'big family' hence the truth though sometimes
painful must be said. As a family, we once refused to tell or were
scared of telling the truth and we all know the consequences. We would
not want to repeat the mistakes we made in 2004 that had such a
tremendous impact on the KDDA. The Community should be seeking
genuine, committed and forward looking leadership that resonates with
other organisations of the 21st century. Let us join hands in
strengthening the Community and the result will surely be development
and not ego, ego, ego.
Let us begin the leadership debate. What qualities do we think the
Community Leaders should have and have we got people that possess such
qualities?
Sorkai TJ
First posted on Kono Community Blog 19 April 2008 17:46
proj...@kono.org.uk
May 4, 2008, 5:52:49 PM5/4/08
to Kono Community
SORKAI LAMINA said...
The will of Kono Community prevails
'Chairman for life' Tamba opel Pessima Sam-Sumana and his cohorts are
making frantic effort to sway people from attending or contributing
toward the strengthening of the newly formed 'Kono Community UK &
Ireland'. Our success is surely oozing a lot of energy out of him.
Opel's recent letter to his invisible membership of the once proud
KDDA organisation explains why he has in five years brought this
previously dynamic organisation to a standstill. He is the elusive
organisation's everything at the moment. Surrogates like Sahr Sinah
and others have begun testing the waters in order to make a clean
break from him. His, is an organisation without tangible elements that
are usually ascribed to anything organised. No executive, no meetings,
no structures etc etc.
What do psychiatrists call a person who is characterized by an
exaggerated sense of power? I believe 'megalomaniac' and what an apt
description of this miserable character. There is every aspect of
delusion and classic attributes of grandeur in his recent and previous
publications. I believe Kono people in the not too distant future will
put the information out there that Opel is not the 'mouthpiece of the
Kono People'. Certainly not. Not in the way he writes, presents his
material and analyses issues. He can only be a mouthpiece for himself.
Everything in his newsletter is aimed at projecting himself and not
Kono.
I don't think it would be wrong of me to kindly ask Opel to stop
deceiving himself. The wider community knows that he does things to
project his 'no image' and no one else. The people Opel accuses
Augustine Tutu of not inviting have not complained. In fact Opel got
the invitation completely wrong. We have moved on from the period when
good natured Kono people were trying to arbitrate in the spirit of
reconciliation. Opel was invited to the last Kono Community meeting
like every other Kono man was. There wasn't going to be any special
treatment. We have no time for 'pettiness'. The Kono Community is
tired with Opel's gimmicks. It shouldn't all be about him. We want to
talk about Kono and issues that affect Kono. The Community has no time
for individuals with 'big egos'. Let's keep it simple and 'Kono
development'.
May I also caution Opel and his cohorts about the new found love for
the Vice President Sam-Sumana? Whatever this Community does in the
future with regards to Kono dignitaries has nothing to do with him. VP
Sam-Sumana may be his brother by extension and how sad for Kono if he
were to be listening to Opel and none of his other genuine brothers
who mean well. It is VP Sam-Sumana who needs us in the Diaspora and
not the reverse. He'll be committing political suicide if he decides
to ignore us in the interest of his northern collaborators.
Long Live Kono Community, May Kono's development be our prime
objective and may curse be upon those who obstruct our positive
development.
Sorkai TJ
First posted on Kono Community Blog on 19 April 2008 19:26
proj...@kono.org.uk
May 4, 2008, 5:53:38 PM5/4/08
to Kono Community
Sorkai Lamina said...
Recent skirmishes in Koidu involving ragtag APC youths that resulted
in the death of our people explains why we need very formidable
diaspora organisations that can influence political, economic and
social decisions in Kono. Our people are destitute and our current
local politicians have either got no influence or lack the stature to
influence policy decisions that affect Kono. Coming to look at it, it
seems a complete joke to have a second in command in the entire
country coming from Kono yet the progress seems so painfully slow.
This is not about APC, PMDC or SLPP. It is about how we all join hands
together to effect change in our fatherland. What a shame that this
sort of misbehaviour can only be allowed in Kono.
I have listened to friends say that our current 'Kono Community'
dispensation should only be aimed at charitable and developmental
projects and should't have any political dimension. I completely
disagree as nothing will be achieved in current day SL without the
necessary political influence.
We are yet at a crawling stage of development. When we get to the
walking stage, nothing should hinder our influencing abilities in all
sectors of life for the Kono man. Let's think about it.
Sorkai TJ
First posted on Kono Community Blog on 02 May 2008 11:33
Recent skirmishes in Koidu involving ragtag APC youths that resulted
in the death of our people explains why we need very formidable
diaspora organisations that can influence political, economic and
social decisions in Kono. Our people are destitute and our current
local politicians have either got no influence or lack the stature to
influence policy decisions that affect Kono. Coming to look at it, it
seems a complete joke to have a second in command in the entire
country coming from Kono yet the progress seems so painfully slow.
This is not about APC, PMDC or SLPP. It is about how we all join hands
together to effect change in our fatherland. What a shame that this
sort of misbehaviour can only be allowed in Kono.
I have listened to friends say that our current 'Kono Community'
dispensation should only be aimed at charitable and developmental
projects and should't have any political dimension. I completely
disagree as nothing will be achieved in current day SL without the
necessary political influence.
We are yet at a crawling stage of development. When we get to the
walking stage, nothing should hinder our influencing abilities in all
sectors of life for the Kono man. Let's think about it.
Sorkai TJ
First posted on Kono Community Blog on 02 May 2008 11:33
proj...@kono.org.uk
May 4, 2008, 5:54:36 PM5/4/08
to Kono Community
S O Fasuluku said...
Popular opinion amongst Konos has shown that people shy away from
politics, which they see as distasteful, but they are interested in
our development and community. We have suffered as a community for a
long time because the main actors in our community tend to move
towards politics and away from humanitarianism and practical action.
It is patently untrue that development is dependant on politics in the
way one domino is dependent on the previous domino. In fact most
development occurs in our country DESPITE politics rather than BECAUSE
of it. Politics often gets in the way of development mainly because of
the various interests and groups that politicians pander to. They do
not take a wholehearted humanitarian and ecological approach, instead
they struggle mostly to satisfy the capitalist cause and its
lobbyists, their own ambition and self interest, keeping up
appearances and getting re-elected, and of course the second greatest
corruptor; power (the first is surely money). It is no wonder that
human needs and suffering come last on their task lists when they
should be first.
Businessmen will tell you globalisation and economic development
equals human development. Futurists will tell you a technological
concrete-metal utopia equals human development. Authoritarians will
tell you to bow to authority and trust those in power and they will
deliver human development. Spiritualist will either tell you to forget
human development or concentrate only on your soul and leave the world
to go to hell. Politicians will tell you to vote for me and I’ll set
you free or feed some other jargon, while they firmly ally themselves
with globalisation, preserving the power of the state against their
citizens and economics. Humanitarianism comes a poor last on their
list. Surely the only group concerned with sustainability and
humankind in its best sense are the humanitarians and ecologists.
“The process of globalisation provokes questions such as does it work?
Is it a good or bad thing? Can it last? The questions are hard to
answer bilaterally. Who’s doing the convincing? The neoliberal,
radical or transformationalist? The poor man, the humanitarian or the
businessman. Right wing or left wing? This indicates the level of
confusion that comes about when one tries to deal scientifically and
accurately with conflicting arguments that apparently arbitrarily
select and use less than empirical evidence to ‘prove’ their points .
Eventually one has to step outside of the arguments and perhaps take
some higher ground perspective. The sustainable humanitarian solution
seems to be the most logical common ground for each of the above to
begin examining the process. The most hard-hearted capitalist will
presumably want his exploits to survive and despite his denial will
need humans to at least purchase, if not also produce, their product.
So it makes sense to keep us in the picture, as opposed to extinct. It
also provides the clearest view of the distance globalisation takes
humanity from the provision of each persons physical and psychological
basic needs, necessary for the survival and sanity of the race , in
other words, its sustainability.” (SOF January 2008)
I do not see politics as the precursor of human development and I
believe economics plays a secondary part. I do instead see the
humanitarian and ecological movements as the precursors to realistic
humanitarian and ecological politics.
“………The immense, devastating and dehumanising exclusion (globalisation
and urbanisation) cause are best seen first hand and hard to describe
here to reflect their scale or the distance they take us from
sustainable humanity, hence my argument in the first paragraph. Other
issues relating to this are those of the legitimacy and mandate of
money-led institutions to decide humans’ fates and quality of life,
whether local or global. The transformationalist view attempts to
perform the devils greatest trick of convincing us that evil does not
exist, when it should be clear from the scale of suffering of those
affected that this is neither benign change nor does it provide
guaranteed, the benefits espoused by the Washington Consensus..” (SOF
January 2008)
First posted on the Kono Community Blog on 04 May 2008 20:55
Popular opinion amongst Konos has shown that people shy away from
politics, which they see as distasteful, but they are interested in
our development and community. We have suffered as a community for a
long time because the main actors in our community tend to move
towards politics and away from humanitarianism and practical action.
It is patently untrue that development is dependant on politics in the
way one domino is dependent on the previous domino. In fact most
development occurs in our country DESPITE politics rather than BECAUSE
of it. Politics often gets in the way of development mainly because of
the various interests and groups that politicians pander to. They do
not take a wholehearted humanitarian and ecological approach, instead
they struggle mostly to satisfy the capitalist cause and its
lobbyists, their own ambition and self interest, keeping up
appearances and getting re-elected, and of course the second greatest
corruptor; power (the first is surely money). It is no wonder that
human needs and suffering come last on their task lists when they
should be first.
Businessmen will tell you globalisation and economic development
equals human development. Futurists will tell you a technological
concrete-metal utopia equals human development. Authoritarians will
tell you to bow to authority and trust those in power and they will
deliver human development. Spiritualist will either tell you to forget
human development or concentrate only on your soul and leave the world
to go to hell. Politicians will tell you to vote for me and I’ll set
you free or feed some other jargon, while they firmly ally themselves
with globalisation, preserving the power of the state against their
citizens and economics. Humanitarianism comes a poor last on their
list. Surely the only group concerned with sustainability and
humankind in its best sense are the humanitarians and ecologists.
“The process of globalisation provokes questions such as does it work?
Is it a good or bad thing? Can it last? The questions are hard to
answer bilaterally. Who’s doing the convincing? The neoliberal,
radical or transformationalist? The poor man, the humanitarian or the
businessman. Right wing or left wing? This indicates the level of
confusion that comes about when one tries to deal scientifically and
accurately with conflicting arguments that apparently arbitrarily
select and use less than empirical evidence to ‘prove’ their points .
Eventually one has to step outside of the arguments and perhaps take
some higher ground perspective. The sustainable humanitarian solution
seems to be the most logical common ground for each of the above to
begin examining the process. The most hard-hearted capitalist will
presumably want his exploits to survive and despite his denial will
need humans to at least purchase, if not also produce, their product.
So it makes sense to keep us in the picture, as opposed to extinct. It
also provides the clearest view of the distance globalisation takes
humanity from the provision of each persons physical and psychological
basic needs, necessary for the survival and sanity of the race , in
other words, its sustainability.” (SOF January 2008)
I do not see politics as the precursor of human development and I
believe economics plays a secondary part. I do instead see the
humanitarian and ecological movements as the precursors to realistic
humanitarian and ecological politics.
“………The immense, devastating and dehumanising exclusion (globalisation
and urbanisation) cause are best seen first hand and hard to describe
here to reflect their scale or the distance they take us from
sustainable humanity, hence my argument in the first paragraph. Other
issues relating to this are those of the legitimacy and mandate of
money-led institutions to decide humans’ fates and quality of life,
whether local or global. The transformationalist view attempts to
perform the devils greatest trick of convincing us that evil does not
exist, when it should be clear from the scale of suffering of those
affected that this is neither benign change nor does it provide
guaranteed, the benefits espoused by the Washington Consensus..” (SOF
January 2008)
First posted on the Kono Community Blog on 04 May 2008 20:55
proj...@kono.org.uk
May 9, 2008, 3:12:02 PM5/9/08
to Kono Community
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Aiah Sodengbe [mailto:]
Sent: 08 May 2008 01:08
To: ; proj...@kono.org.uk
Subject: SORKAI TJ AND HIS PRESS WAR
Sorkai TJ's two contradicting articles dated 19 April 2008 can not
just be put aside. He rightly noted that the mistakes made in 2004
that had tremendous impact on the KDDA must not be repeated. He
further went on and unwittingly engaged himself in a press war with Mr
Tamba Opel Sam-Sumana and few others. The irony of the matter is; who
made the fundamental mistake in 2004?
Our mistakes of the past must not only be corrected, but we have to
put up structures to prevent their recurrence. The content of Sorkai
TJ's articles do not go down well for development in Kono. He
expressed his opinion with robustness and there is some truth in the
general thrust of his case; though intellectually bereft.
Articles of such nature are short-sighted and unprogressive. I would
suggest that Sorkai TJ refrain from using the Kono community blog for
personal attacks as the ultimate result would be soliciting personal
vendetta.
We must dedicate our energies to improving the lives of those who
truly need help, and do so in tangible and meaningful ways.
Aiah Sodengbe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messenger's gone Mobile! Get it now!
proj...@kono.org.uk
May 9, 2008, 5:15:11 PM5/9/08
to Kono Community
I would agree. We agreed not to engage in personal attacks or
retribution for attacks upon us. So it's time to come forward with
some practical ideas for development. Are we to have another
organisation filled with would-be politicians who aspire to be our
communities' gatekeepers and middle men? An organisation that exists
only to perpetuate its own existence and offers nothing to its
community?
Or can I now say to everybody that we have matured as a community and
are now ready for a project-led charitable volunteering with
measurable outputs and positive impact on our communities? I would
like the organisation to steer towards the latter, but this will only
happen if you all push for it. As I see things at present, the current
interim committee needs to look carefully at its direction before we
land ourselves where we have already been. I've been there and done
that and so had my father before me. I have no interest in repeating
history and I am not trapped by the history of my countrymen, so let
us start writing a different history.
You can start NOW by reading my rough draft Powerpoint proposal. It
needs work but its a start and I urge you to join together and develop
it until it's ready for the 21st century. You can see it on the Kono
Community Group Files page or go to:
http://kono-community.googlegroups.com/web/Kono_uk_org%20March%2008.ppt?gda=nJICrkkAAACymLPz6qD_kCFo0JlAJ4zMkcfZFq-A3C6JUe_CfiB2XGG1qiJ7UbTIup-M2XPURDR2YZ2VCWFXOvdJTZjFPxGo208GfcPUXu7f1Wa9FOlDiw
when you ahave done that take a look at the organisations interim
action plan. also to be found on the groups files page. Partnerships
are a priority. We have assistance waiting for us if we move in the
right direction. Funding can be arranged, support and volunteering
organisations are waiting to assist us (true!), other organisations
can partner with us (if we are credible), projects are right now
waiting in the wings to see which way we choose to go. Fantasy? No, a
very real reality, which we have had little faith in up till now.
Sometimes I wonder whether we suffer collective low self esteem that
makes us afraid to believe and afraid to succeed. I read on a poster
today that 'opportunity favours the well prepared'.
Anyone interested in getting prepared?
retribution for attacks upon us. So it's time to come forward with
some practical ideas for development. Are we to have another
organisation filled with would-be politicians who aspire to be our
communities' gatekeepers and middle men? An organisation that exists
only to perpetuate its own existence and offers nothing to its
community?
Or can I now say to everybody that we have matured as a community and
are now ready for a project-led charitable volunteering with
measurable outputs and positive impact on our communities? I would
like the organisation to steer towards the latter, but this will only
happen if you all push for it. As I see things at present, the current
interim committee needs to look carefully at its direction before we
land ourselves where we have already been. I've been there and done
that and so had my father before me. I have no interest in repeating
history and I am not trapped by the history of my countrymen, so let
us start writing a different history.
You can start NOW by reading my rough draft Powerpoint proposal. It
needs work but its a start and I urge you to join together and develop
it until it's ready for the 21st century. You can see it on the Kono
Community Group Files page or go to:
http://kono-community.googlegroups.com/web/Kono_uk_org%20March%2008.ppt?gda=nJICrkkAAACymLPz6qD_kCFo0JlAJ4zMkcfZFq-A3C6JUe_CfiB2XGG1qiJ7UbTIup-M2XPURDR2YZ2VCWFXOvdJTZjFPxGo208GfcPUXu7f1Wa9FOlDiw
when you ahave done that take a look at the organisations interim
action plan. also to be found on the groups files page. Partnerships
are a priority. We have assistance waiting for us if we move in the
right direction. Funding can be arranged, support and volunteering
organisations are waiting to assist us (true!), other organisations
can partner with us (if we are credible), projects are right now
waiting in the wings to see which way we choose to go. Fantasy? No, a
very real reality, which we have had little faith in up till now.
Sometimes I wonder whether we suffer collective low self esteem that
makes us afraid to believe and afraid to succeed. I read on a poster
today that 'opportunity favours the well prepared'.
Anyone interested in getting prepared?
proj...@kono.org.uk
May 10, 2008, 1:12:56 PM5/10/08
to Kono Community
I think you’re doing a terrific job with the Kono Community and wish
you all the very best in your endeavours.
With kind regards
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr
you all the very best in your endeavours.
With kind regards
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 1, 2008, 12:49:55 PM6/1/08
to Kono Community
From: SHERIFF BOCKARIE
Sent: 09 April 2008 01:01
To: Sahr Fasuluku LLB
Subject: Re: Meeting Venue Kono Community-UK
HI,
My name is Sheriff Bockarie and reside in the US,I am very interested
in the blog,
I am very much interested in how we can help kono.I am currently
involved in mechinize farming at Worodu town in Sandoh Chiefdom. I
started in 2004 with 10 acre and now we had 500acre of cultivated
land please check my web site that is currently under construction.
NEEDSINC.NET.I believe it is time to start rethinking of how to assist
our country in this try time.
Sheriff Bockarie.
Sent: 09 April 2008 01:01
To: Sahr Fasuluku LLB
Subject: Re: Meeting Venue Kono Community-UK
HI,
My name is Sheriff Bockarie and reside in the US,I am very interested
in the blog,
I am very much interested in how we can help kono.I am currently
involved in mechinize farming at Worodu town in Sandoh Chiefdom. I
started in 2004 with 10 acre and now we had 500acre of cultivated
land please check my web site that is currently under construction.
NEEDSINC.NET.I believe it is time to start rethinking of how to assist
our country in this try time.
Sheriff Bockarie.
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 1, 2008, 12:53:46 PM6/1/08
to Kono Community
Hello Mr Bockarie
Sorry for the delay in writing. I have had a look at your website. It
is good to see development in action, especially if it is designed to
be sustainable and communities can become self sufficient. My old
school friend Tamba Richard Sandi comes from Wordu and I have visited
there myself with my wife in 2004 (you can see the photos at www.sandoh.org
and click on the link for photos).
Whatever development efforts we make, our communities must benefit at
grassroots level. It's all about creating sustainable livelihoods,
where farmers can eat a healthy and varied diet all year round, and
produce enough per family so they can sell the excess and pay for
healthcare, education, clothes and shelter. It is also about
sustainable land management so we do not destroy the source of our
food. These are some of the concepts I hope to introduce to the the
Kono community in the UK. The solutions include Fair Trade and organic
farming.
Please let us know more about yourself, your organisation and whether
you would like your organisation to become a partner to the Kono
Community UK. We are eager to work with similar minded organisations.
We have a general meeting tomorrow and if you would like to ally
yourself with us i can present your proposal at tomorrow's meeting.
Dont forget to leave comments on our blog at www.kono.org.uk and
include a link to your website.
Yours S O Fasuluku
Projects @.kono.org.uk
Sorry for the delay in writing. I have had a look at your website. It
is good to see development in action, especially if it is designed to
be sustainable and communities can become self sufficient. My old
school friend Tamba Richard Sandi comes from Wordu and I have visited
there myself with my wife in 2004 (you can see the photos at www.sandoh.org
and click on the link for photos).
Whatever development efforts we make, our communities must benefit at
grassroots level. It's all about creating sustainable livelihoods,
where farmers can eat a healthy and varied diet all year round, and
produce enough per family so they can sell the excess and pay for
healthcare, education, clothes and shelter. It is also about
sustainable land management so we do not destroy the source of our
food. These are some of the concepts I hope to introduce to the the
Kono community in the UK. The solutions include Fair Trade and organic
farming.
Please let us know more about yourself, your organisation and whether
you would like your organisation to become a partner to the Kono
Community UK. We are eager to work with similar minded organisations.
We have a general meeting tomorrow and if you would like to ally
yourself with us i can present your proposal at tomorrow's meeting.
Dont forget to leave comments on our blog at www.kono.org.uk and
include a link to your website.
Yours S O Fasuluku
Projects @.kono.org.uk
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 1, 2008, 1:26:06 PM6/1/08
to Kono Community
NGO’s,
Community based organisations and
Council development committees
Dear NGO colleagues,
I am writing to introduce the Hon Aiah Sonsiama Fasuluku MP Memorial
Programme for Sandoh to you in the event that our services as a
campaign group, information source and liaison between the rest of the
world and Sandoh (Sandor) Chiefdom might be of interest to you.
The HASFM Programme for Sandoh is an independent, non-profit, non-
governmental organisation (NGO) that aims to provide information and
strategic support to NNGO’s, CBO’s, social movements, and affected
communities in and connected to Sandoh and Kono as a whole. Since 2003
our main activities have evolved; from assisting on the ground project
initiation, to strategic planning, capacity building, information and
signposting via our website, www.sandoh.org.uk, a resource for
sustainable development in Sandoh (Sandor) and greater Kono.
The HASFM Programme advocates for self-reliant and sustainable
development at chiefdom level, to assist Sierra Leone in its
rehabilitation. We encourage strategic planning and self-sufficiency
to ensure long-term positive development. We are not formally
associated with any organisations, though we do welcome partnerships
with the above and with local businesses and governmental departments,
as long as there is no conflict of interest, and can assist in the
facilitation of documented, accountable projects.
Sandoh Chiefdom (popularly misspelt - Sandor) is a farming community
situated on the northern edge of the Kono District in the Eastern
Province of Sierra Leone, on the west coast of Africa. One of the
larger chiefdoms in the country, the area has improved year on year as
the chiefdom has increased its development efforts since the
restoration of local government in 2004 and especially since the
appointment of its Paramount Chief in 2005. Primary income generation
has historically come from smallholder agriculture, but this is
hindered by a shortage of available labour as ablebodied men
concentrate in neighbouring mining areas or major urban centres.
HASFM Programme advocates for sustainable rural livelihoods,
sustainable land management, and sustainable communities. Because of
this, we promote the concepts of organic farming and international
fair trade.
Modern, intensive agriculture causes many problems, including the
following:
• Artificial fertilisers, herbicides and hormones are easily washed
from the soil and pollute rivers, lakes and watercourses.
• The prolonged use of artificial fertilisers results in soils with a
low organic matter content, which is easily eroded by wind and rain.
• Dependency on fertilisers means greater amounts are needed every
year to produce the same yields of crops.
• Artificial pesticides and hormones can stay in the soil for a long
time and enter the food chain where they build up in the bodies of
animals and humans, causing health problems.
• Artificial chemicals destroy microorganisms in the soil, resulting
in poor soil structure and aeration and decreasing nutrient
availability.
• Pests and diseases become more difficult to control as they become
resistant to
artificial pesticides. The numbers of natural enemies to these pests
and diseases decrease because of pesticide use and habitat loss.
Organic farming and fair trade schemes provide long-term benefits to
people, communities and the environment. Recent evidence from 20
countries shows more than 2 million families farming sustainably on
more than 4-5 million hectares. Organic farming aims to:
• Increase long-term soil fertility.
• Control pests and diseases without harming the environment.
• Ensure that water stays clean and safe.
• Use resources that the farmer already has, so the farmer needs less
money to
buy farm inputs.
• Produce nutritious food, feed for animals and high quality crops to
sell at a good
price, higher than non-organic produce.
Services the HASFM Programme can provide to organisations include:
• Provision of sensitisation publications and workshops in Sierra
Leone relating to; capacity-building for organic and agro-ecological
farming methods, fair trade schemes and the promotion of rural living
and farming as a viable livelihood, addressing urbanisation and youth
unemployment, income diversification, adult education and intermediate
technology.
• Project development, capacity building, facilitation and monitoring
in Sierra Leone, of;
organic conversions, organic certification applications and fair-trade
scheme membership applications on behalf of smallholder groups, adult
literacy and numeracy programmes.
• Research into sustainable land-management, sustainable communities
and livelihoods, and environmental issues affecting farmers and local
communities.
• Summaries of environmental and social concerns being discussed in
the international community.
• Project Monitoring: At the request of and in conjunction with NGOs
or communities within Sierra Leone, HASFMP can monitor and seek to
influence environmentally and socially destructive projects to reduce
or avoid their impact.
To read more about HASFMP’s work, please visit our website, www.sandoh.org.uk
(and www.sandor.org.uk). If you have any specific questions or
concerns, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sahr O Fasuluku LLB
Programme Coordinator
HASFM Programme
81 Falkirk House
Maida Vale, London W9 1QX
www.sandoh.org.uk
Tel: +44 207 604 3621
Mob: +44 7756 626 514
Email: sahrfas @.asfasuluku.org
Community based organisations and
Council development committees
Dear NGO colleagues,
I am writing to introduce the Hon Aiah Sonsiama Fasuluku MP Memorial
Programme for Sandoh to you in the event that our services as a
campaign group, information source and liaison between the rest of the
world and Sandoh (Sandor) Chiefdom might be of interest to you.
The HASFM Programme for Sandoh is an independent, non-profit, non-
governmental organisation (NGO) that aims to provide information and
strategic support to NNGO’s, CBO’s, social movements, and affected
communities in and connected to Sandoh and Kono as a whole. Since 2003
our main activities have evolved; from assisting on the ground project
initiation, to strategic planning, capacity building, information and
signposting via our website, www.sandoh.org.uk, a resource for
sustainable development in Sandoh (Sandor) and greater Kono.
The HASFM Programme advocates for self-reliant and sustainable
development at chiefdom level, to assist Sierra Leone in its
rehabilitation. We encourage strategic planning and self-sufficiency
to ensure long-term positive development. We are not formally
associated with any organisations, though we do welcome partnerships
with the above and with local businesses and governmental departments,
as long as there is no conflict of interest, and can assist in the
facilitation of documented, accountable projects.
Sandoh Chiefdom (popularly misspelt - Sandor) is a farming community
situated on the northern edge of the Kono District in the Eastern
Province of Sierra Leone, on the west coast of Africa. One of the
larger chiefdoms in the country, the area has improved year on year as
the chiefdom has increased its development efforts since the
restoration of local government in 2004 and especially since the
appointment of its Paramount Chief in 2005. Primary income generation
has historically come from smallholder agriculture, but this is
hindered by a shortage of available labour as ablebodied men
concentrate in neighbouring mining areas or major urban centres.
HASFM Programme advocates for sustainable rural livelihoods,
sustainable land management, and sustainable communities. Because of
this, we promote the concepts of organic farming and international
fair trade.
Modern, intensive agriculture causes many problems, including the
following:
• Artificial fertilisers, herbicides and hormones are easily washed
from the soil and pollute rivers, lakes and watercourses.
• The prolonged use of artificial fertilisers results in soils with a
low organic matter content, which is easily eroded by wind and rain.
• Dependency on fertilisers means greater amounts are needed every
year to produce the same yields of crops.
• Artificial pesticides and hormones can stay in the soil for a long
time and enter the food chain where they build up in the bodies of
animals and humans, causing health problems.
• Artificial chemicals destroy microorganisms in the soil, resulting
in poor soil structure and aeration and decreasing nutrient
availability.
• Pests and diseases become more difficult to control as they become
resistant to
artificial pesticides. The numbers of natural enemies to these pests
and diseases decrease because of pesticide use and habitat loss.
Organic farming and fair trade schemes provide long-term benefits to
people, communities and the environment. Recent evidence from 20
countries shows more than 2 million families farming sustainably on
more than 4-5 million hectares. Organic farming aims to:
• Increase long-term soil fertility.
• Control pests and diseases without harming the environment.
• Ensure that water stays clean and safe.
• Use resources that the farmer already has, so the farmer needs less
money to
buy farm inputs.
• Produce nutritious food, feed for animals and high quality crops to
sell at a good
price, higher than non-organic produce.
Services the HASFM Programme can provide to organisations include:
• Provision of sensitisation publications and workshops in Sierra
Leone relating to; capacity-building for organic and agro-ecological
farming methods, fair trade schemes and the promotion of rural living
and farming as a viable livelihood, addressing urbanisation and youth
unemployment, income diversification, adult education and intermediate
technology.
• Project development, capacity building, facilitation and monitoring
in Sierra Leone, of;
organic conversions, organic certification applications and fair-trade
scheme membership applications on behalf of smallholder groups, adult
literacy and numeracy programmes.
• Research into sustainable land-management, sustainable communities
and livelihoods, and environmental issues affecting farmers and local
communities.
• Summaries of environmental and social concerns being discussed in
the international community.
• Project Monitoring: At the request of and in conjunction with NGOs
or communities within Sierra Leone, HASFMP can monitor and seek to
influence environmentally and socially destructive projects to reduce
or avoid their impact.
To read more about HASFMP’s work, please visit our website, www.sandoh.org.uk
(and www.sandor.org.uk). If you have any specific questions or
concerns, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sahr O Fasuluku LLB
Programme Coordinator
HASFM Programme
81 Falkirk House
Maida Vale, London W9 1QX
www.sandoh.org.uk
Tel: +44 207 604 3621
Mob: +44 7756 626 514
Email: sahrfas @.asfasuluku.org
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 1, 2008, 2:18:26 PM6/1/08
to Kono Community
The Sickle Cell Carers Awareness Network
Working in Kono and the rest of Sierra Leone to extend lives and
improve quality of life for Sickle Cell sufferers and their carers. -
www.sccan.org.uk
SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA IS AN INHERITED BLOOD DISORDER; IT CANNOT BE
CAUGHT
THERE ARE 12 MILLION ESTIMATED SUFFERERS IN AFRICA
WHEN LEFT UNMANAGED 80% OF CHILD SUFFERERS DIE BEFORE THEIR FIFTH YEAR
IN RURAL AREAS
MANAGED SICKLE CELL SUFFERERS CAN LEAD LONG ACTIVE LIVES
In some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, up to 2% of all children are born
with [Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA)] (WHO, 2006). About 70% of all sickle
cell anaemia (SCA) subjects reside in Africa, estimated at over 12
million. The prevalence of SCA is estimated at over 2% while infant
mortality is about 8% and survival rate of SCA babies in rural areas
by five years of age is about 20%. These statistics indicate that SCA
is probably the most neglected (and sometimes forgotten by health
authorities) serious public health disorder with serious mortality and
morbidity rates in Africa (United Nations Economic Commission For
Africa, March, 2008). Despite this, it has not been given the
attention it requires in Sierra Leone.
Patients with this debilitating and painful disease are often
completely dependant on their families and communities who are already
struggling with poverty and hunger. They are often unable to be
economically active and cannot contribute to family finances. Unaware
of the 'do's' and 'don'ts', mistakes are made that cause even greater
suffering and they live much shortened lives.
The wellbeing and welfare of sickle cell patients in Sierra Leone is
SCCANs primary concern. Therefore we aim to offer a variety of
services to meet carers', individual, family and community needs to
enable and empower them to care more effectively.
Carers have been doing a significant job in the midst of limitations,
despite their lack of adequate knowledge of Sickle Cell Anaemia
(SCA).
SCCAN services include education, counselling, referrals to health
care and social services agencies, and emergency financial assistance.
We also wish to initiate a nationwide screening programme and provide
valuable research into this terribly neglected debilitating disease.
The SCCAN counselling and education programme is intended to help keep
patients and their families informed about Sickle Cell Disease and to
respond to the diverse questions and concerns that surface during
counselling sessions e.g. pain management, life expectancy and quality
of life, unemployment, inability to work and poverty, prejudice,
intermarriage, causes and management of SCA, crisis management,
transportation needs during crisis, medication and problems with
getting drugs.
Over the past year in Sierra Leone 20 people have received or accessed
our services.
Our target at SCCAN is to introduce a pilot screening project in the
short term, followed by the initiation of a long-term screening
programme aiming at diagnosing 25 trait carriers and 12 SCA sufferers
per month per district. For as little as £2 per patient we can
identify possible carriers and refer them for further screening. Once
diagnosed and with proper education and management, sufferers can go
on to lead long and active lives contributing to their communities and
reducing their poverty. Infant and child mortality can be
significantly reduced and maternal survival increased.
The goals and objectives of SCCAN tie in with Sierra Leone's national
health strategy, and contribute to the Millennium Goals to be achieved
internationally by 2015.
Please visit our website at: www.sccan.org.uk
Sia E Nyandemo
CEO
Sickle Cell Carers Awareness Network
ceo@ sccan.org .uk
www.sccan.org.uk
Working in Kono and the rest of Sierra Leone to extend lives and
improve quality of life for Sickle Cell sufferers and their carers. -
www.sccan.org.uk
SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA IS AN INHERITED BLOOD DISORDER; IT CANNOT BE
CAUGHT
THERE ARE 12 MILLION ESTIMATED SUFFERERS IN AFRICA
WHEN LEFT UNMANAGED 80% OF CHILD SUFFERERS DIE BEFORE THEIR FIFTH YEAR
IN RURAL AREAS
MANAGED SICKLE CELL SUFFERERS CAN LEAD LONG ACTIVE LIVES
In some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, up to 2% of all children are born
with [Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA)] (WHO, 2006). About 70% of all sickle
cell anaemia (SCA) subjects reside in Africa, estimated at over 12
million. The prevalence of SCA is estimated at over 2% while infant
mortality is about 8% and survival rate of SCA babies in rural areas
by five years of age is about 20%. These statistics indicate that SCA
is probably the most neglected (and sometimes forgotten by health
authorities) serious public health disorder with serious mortality and
morbidity rates in Africa (United Nations Economic Commission For
Africa, March, 2008). Despite this, it has not been given the
attention it requires in Sierra Leone.
Patients with this debilitating and painful disease are often
completely dependant on their families and communities who are already
struggling with poverty and hunger. They are often unable to be
economically active and cannot contribute to family finances. Unaware
of the 'do's' and 'don'ts', mistakes are made that cause even greater
suffering and they live much shortened lives.
The wellbeing and welfare of sickle cell patients in Sierra Leone is
SCCANs primary concern. Therefore we aim to offer a variety of
services to meet carers', individual, family and community needs to
enable and empower them to care more effectively.
Carers have been doing a significant job in the midst of limitations,
despite their lack of adequate knowledge of Sickle Cell Anaemia
(SCA).
SCCAN services include education, counselling, referrals to health
care and social services agencies, and emergency financial assistance.
We also wish to initiate a nationwide screening programme and provide
valuable research into this terribly neglected debilitating disease.
The SCCAN counselling and education programme is intended to help keep
patients and their families informed about Sickle Cell Disease and to
respond to the diverse questions and concerns that surface during
counselling sessions e.g. pain management, life expectancy and quality
of life, unemployment, inability to work and poverty, prejudice,
intermarriage, causes and management of SCA, crisis management,
transportation needs during crisis, medication and problems with
getting drugs.
Over the past year in Sierra Leone 20 people have received or accessed
our services.
Our target at SCCAN is to introduce a pilot screening project in the
short term, followed by the initiation of a long-term screening
programme aiming at diagnosing 25 trait carriers and 12 SCA sufferers
per month per district. For as little as £2 per patient we can
identify possible carriers and refer them for further screening. Once
diagnosed and with proper education and management, sufferers can go
on to lead long and active lives contributing to their communities and
reducing their poverty. Infant and child mortality can be
significantly reduced and maternal survival increased.
The goals and objectives of SCCAN tie in with Sierra Leone's national
health strategy, and contribute to the Millennium Goals to be achieved
internationally by 2015.
Please visit our website at: www.sccan.org.uk
Sia E Nyandemo
CEO
Sickle Cell Carers Awareness Network
ceo@ sccan.org .uk
www.sccan.org.uk
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 11, 2008, 4:04:46 PM6/11/08
to Kono Community
HASFMP on its recent factfinding mission to Kono has received word
from a farmer's association that seed security is a major issue now
with farmers.
The main problems, excacerbated by poverty and limited yield are
1. Farmers who took seed loans in previous years failed to repay them
and so no longer qualified for a seed loan the following year.
2. Low skill levels among farmers to maximise their crop while keeping
the land fertile.
3. Farmers being, quote; 'cheated' ie given very low prices for their
crops.
4. Transportation of goods from farm to major district market centres.
For the last 5 years, HASFMP has promoted the formation of organic and
fair trade farmers cooperatives who can come together and;
(a) increase their collective selling power,
(b) be able to afford fairtrade and organic certification and thus
benefit from higher prices for their crops,
(c) increase their skills and their yield with organic farming which
relies on no artificial inputs and maintains the natural balance of
nature, increases or maintains long term soil fertility and ensures
long term soil productivity.
Farmers can benefit from many booklets which simply explain organic
farming methods such as 'Seed Saving' (click the following link to
view; http://organicgardening.org.uk/pdfs/international_programme/FarmerSeedSaving.pdf)
There's much more on the HASFMP website at http://www.sandoh.org.uk .
We would encourage other projects and chiefdom organisations to come
forward so we can network and share ideas.
Email [projects @ Kono. org. uk]
Or reply to this email to post your comments
from a farmer's association that seed security is a major issue now
with farmers.
The main problems, excacerbated by poverty and limited yield are
1. Farmers who took seed loans in previous years failed to repay them
and so no longer qualified for a seed loan the following year.
2. Low skill levels among farmers to maximise their crop while keeping
the land fertile.
3. Farmers being, quote; 'cheated' ie given very low prices for their
crops.
4. Transportation of goods from farm to major district market centres.
For the last 5 years, HASFMP has promoted the formation of organic and
fair trade farmers cooperatives who can come together and;
(a) increase their collective selling power,
(b) be able to afford fairtrade and organic certification and thus
benefit from higher prices for their crops,
(c) increase their skills and their yield with organic farming which
relies on no artificial inputs and maintains the natural balance of
nature, increases or maintains long term soil fertility and ensures
long term soil productivity.
Farmers can benefit from many booklets which simply explain organic
farming methods such as 'Seed Saving' (click the following link to
view; http://organicgardening.org.uk/pdfs/international_programme/FarmerSeedSaving.pdf)
There's much more on the HASFMP website at http://www.sandoh.org.uk .
We would encourage other projects and chiefdom organisations to come
forward so we can network and share ideas.
Email [projects @ Kono. org. uk]
Or reply to this email to post your comments
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 13, 2008, 9:56:05 AM6/13/08
to Kono Community
From: Alex van Besouw <oxfordsier...@googlemail.com>
Subject: Sierra Leone Diaspora and Development
Date: Thursday, 12 June, 2008, 4:33 PM
Dear all at the Kono Community of the UK and Ireland,
I am carrying out some research into the role that the Sierra Leonean
diaspora in the UK plays in the development of Sierra Leone. The aim
of this research is to ascertain what factors are important or
unimportant in encouraging or restricting members of the diaspora in
contributing towards development. The research is based around Sierra
Leoneans in the UK only. My interest in this topic arose out of my
degree studies.
I am currently a nineteen year old undergraduate geography student at
Oxford University and will use the data collected as part of my
dissertation, which is 25% of my degree. I am being generously
supported by the Sierra Leone Diaspora Network (SLDN) in this
endeavour, and I will ensure that the results I obtain are handed to
them to be disseminated to all those who want to see them. I hope that
the information should be of real use to the SLDN and the diaspora as
a whole, including all of its organisations and community groups.
To collect data I am using an online questionnaire and am carrying out
interviews with as many people who are willing to have a chat with me
for what would be no more than an hour.
I was wondering whether you had a mailing list through which you could
send out the questionnaire link (see below) as obviously I want to
contact as many Sierra Leoneans in the UK as possible. It would also
be fantastic if you could encourage people to pass it round as well.
If you do not have a mailing list, would you be able to pass it on to
as many people as you know?
The questionnaire can be found at the link below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=usHCuaB_2bSnrG6cDiJjDb0A_3d_3d
I would also be delighted if any of you, or someone else associated
with the Kono Community, would be willing to be interviewed by me at
some point after July 9th. It wouldn't be an excessively long
interview that would take no more than an hour and probably a lot
less. If someone is willing then please let me know a time, date and
location that would be suitable.
If you have any concerns or queries, then please email me at
oxfordsier...@googlemail.com or give me a ring on
07903958015.
Many thanks for your time- it is very greatly appreciated!
Alex van Besouw
University of Oxford, Hertford College
Subject: Sierra Leone Diaspora and Development
Date: Thursday, 12 June, 2008, 4:33 PM
Dear all at the Kono Community of the UK and Ireland,
I am carrying out some research into the role that the Sierra Leonean
diaspora in the UK plays in the development of Sierra Leone. The aim
of this research is to ascertain what factors are important or
unimportant in encouraging or restricting members of the diaspora in
contributing towards development. The research is based around Sierra
Leoneans in the UK only. My interest in this topic arose out of my
degree studies.
I am currently a nineteen year old undergraduate geography student at
Oxford University and will use the data collected as part of my
dissertation, which is 25% of my degree. I am being generously
supported by the Sierra Leone Diaspora Network (SLDN) in this
endeavour, and I will ensure that the results I obtain are handed to
them to be disseminated to all those who want to see them. I hope that
the information should be of real use to the SLDN and the diaspora as
a whole, including all of its organisations and community groups.
To collect data I am using an online questionnaire and am carrying out
interviews with as many people who are willing to have a chat with me
for what would be no more than an hour.
I was wondering whether you had a mailing list through which you could
send out the questionnaire link (see below) as obviously I want to
contact as many Sierra Leoneans in the UK as possible. It would also
be fantastic if you could encourage people to pass it round as well.
If you do not have a mailing list, would you be able to pass it on to
as many people as you know?
The questionnaire can be found at the link below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=usHCuaB_2bSnrG6cDiJjDb0A_3d_3d
I would also be delighted if any of you, or someone else associated
with the Kono Community, would be willing to be interviewed by me at
some point after July 9th. It wouldn't be an excessively long
interview that would take no more than an hour and probably a lot
less. If someone is willing then please let me know a time, date and
location that would be suitable.
If you have any concerns or queries, then please email me at
oxfordsier...@googlemail.com or give me a ring on
07903958015.
Many thanks for your time- it is very greatly appreciated!
Alex van Besouw
University of Oxford, Hertford College
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 14, 2008, 9:35:07 AM6/14/08
to Kono Community
ATTENTION GBANEH CHIEFDOM !!! ATTENTION GBANEH CHIEFDOM !!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CHIEFDOM
Hi Sahr:
My name is Mark Stopha and I live in Alaska. I worked in Kangahun in
the Gbaneh Chiefdom in the Peace Corps, 1987-1988. We had very
successful fish farming projects there until the war.
I'm very interested in restarting the fish farming project in Kono.
If you know of an agency doing fish farming, or interested in starting
it again, please let me know. All the resources for the project -
water, natural feeds, etc. - are available, and I'm sure we can find a
few tilapia for broodstock to get going again. All that's needed is
some extension work to get farmers going again.
Thanks.
Mark
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH PROJECTS @ KONO.ORG.UK FOR CONTACT DETAILS IF
YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN HANDLE THIS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN GBANEH
CHEIFDOM - OR ASK THEM TO GET IN TOUCH
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CHIEFDOM
Hi Sahr:
My name is Mark Stopha and I live in Alaska. I worked in Kangahun in
the Gbaneh Chiefdom in the Peace Corps, 1987-1988. We had very
successful fish farming projects there until the war.
I'm very interested in restarting the fish farming project in Kono.
If you know of an agency doing fish farming, or interested in starting
it again, please let me know. All the resources for the project -
water, natural feeds, etc. - are available, and I'm sure we can find a
few tilapia for broodstock to get going again. All that's needed is
some extension work to get farmers going again.
Thanks.
Mark
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH PROJECTS @ KONO.ORG.UK FOR CONTACT DETAILS IF
YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN HANDLE THIS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN GBANEH
CHEIFDOM - OR ASK THEM TO GET IN TOUCH
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 14, 2008, 9:50:11 AM6/14/08
to Kono Community
Hello Mark
It's wonderful to hear from you with such positive news. I've put the
notice on the website and will be happy to assist if required. If I
don't hear from anyone in a week or two I will see if I can send
someone down there from HASFMP in Sierra Leone (www.sandoh.org.uk
forgive our scruffy website) to investigate and make some contacts (we
assist other chiefdoms where required).
I trust this is a sustainable project/programme and that the local
community will benefit. Please confirm.
Can you explain the type of extension work needed?
Also what sort of timeframe did you have in mind (ie initiation,
capacity building, implementation, and duration) ?
On behalf of all Kono people I thank you for your interest and hope it
all works out. Thanks also for your previous work in Gbaneh chiefdom,
I'm sure some people will still remember you there.
Sahr O Fasuluku
Projects @ kono.org.uk
On Jun 14, 2:35 pm, proje...@kono.org.uk wrote:
> ATTENTION GBANEH CHIEFDOM !!! ATTENTION GBANEH CHIEFDOM !!!
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > and artificial inputs, or Fair Trade and organic farming?'- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
It's wonderful to hear from you with such positive news. I've put the
notice on the website and will be happy to assist if required. If I
don't hear from anyone in a week or two I will see if I can send
someone down there from HASFMP in Sierra Leone (www.sandoh.org.uk
forgive our scruffy website) to investigate and make some contacts (we
assist other chiefdoms where required).
I trust this is a sustainable project/programme and that the local
community will benefit. Please confirm.
Can you explain the type of extension work needed?
Also what sort of timeframe did you have in mind (ie initiation,
capacity building, implementation, and duration) ?
On behalf of all Kono people I thank you for your interest and hope it
all works out. Thanks also for your previous work in Gbaneh chiefdom,
I'm sure some people will still remember you there.
Sahr O Fasuluku
Projects @ kono.org.uk
On Jun 14, 2:35 pm, proje...@kono.org.uk wrote:
> ATTENTION GBANEH CHIEFDOM !!! ATTENTION GBANEH CHIEFDOM !!!
>
> - Show quoted text -
proj...@kono.org.uk
Jun 16, 2008, 4:32:44 PM6/16/08
to Kono Community
Hi Sahr:
Getting set up would be the initial work. Seeing what ponds might
have survived the war, and if there are any fish in them for
broodstock again. It might be a matter of getting back and getting
the old ponds going first, and then looking to start new ponds. Ponds
can be built by hand, and extension is just showing farmers what to
do. Little or no monetary inputs are really needed. If there is an
umbrella agency there, like CRS or anyone involved in agriculture, I
could look to work under their umbrella and perhaps work on a
framework with them to get a program up and going.
It's really up to the area farmers to start ponds and feed fish. Of
prime importance is getting the best farmers so the first ponds will
be successful, and things will take off from there. The farmers
really had a great thing going in the Fuendu, Kangahun, Gehun towns.
We also did some work down in the bordering Mende towns to the south
of us.
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
Getting set up would be the initial work. Seeing what ponds might
have survived the war, and if there are any fish in them for
broodstock again. It might be a matter of getting back and getting
the old ponds going first, and then looking to start new ponds. Ponds
can be built by hand, and extension is just showing farmers what to
do. Little or no monetary inputs are really needed. If there is an
umbrella agency there, like CRS or anyone involved in agriculture, I
could look to work under their umbrella and perhaps work on a
framework with them to get a program up and going.
It's really up to the area farmers to start ponds and feed fish. Of
prime importance is getting the best farmers so the first ponds will
be successful, and things will take off from there. The farmers
really had a great thing going in the Fuendu, Kangahun, Gehun towns.
We also did some work down in the bordering Mende towns to the south
of us.
KONO FOUNDATION
Jul 2, 2008, 11:32:39 AM7/2/08
to Kono Community
Re: Konos Meeting
Posted by: "Sahr Fasuluku LLB" sah...@yahoo.co.uk sahrfas
Tue Jul 1, 2008 6:20 am (PDT)
Reply to a discussion on the US based Kono Foundation discussion
group.
I sit on an interim Kono Committee in London with similar problems to
your
own, the other two Kono organisations in the UK also share these
problems. I
said recently at our general meeting, that we get the leaders we
deserve.
This was in reaction to a member throwing all responsibility for the
outcomes of our efforts solely onto the shoulders of 5 volunteer
committee
members with family and life commitments of their own. I stated that
the
ultimate responsibilty for the outcomes of the organisation lay with
the
membership and supporters.
Konos and Sierra Leoneans in general are yet to master the principles
of
accountability and transparency, but then this is a problem in the UK
and US
as well with most people wanting to be left to get on with their lives
while
others exercise democracy on their behalf. One of the fundamental
principles
is that we should not expect A & T to come at us proactively. In fact
it is
often in the interest of those running organisations to be reluctant.
It is
our responsibility as a community to demand A & T from the first day
of
business, before a single penny has changed hands, and continue to
insist
upon it throughout the life of an organisation.
When my bank manager demands to see proof of my address I do not say
'trust
me' and get annoyed when that is unnacceptable. Yet it is deemed
impolite or
even gravely insulting to insist on a receipt for say your valuable
passport
from Sierra Leonean Immigration in Freetown (just an example). I hear
'trust
me' 'we all nah famble' 'me nah yu brother' ' no worry' 'how bah'
'notu so
we de do am nah yah' 'yu feel say...' etc., etc., etc., etc., all the
time
from people I have dealings with in Sierra Leone and I find it
necessary to
constantly remind them it is not just a matter of trust, it is a
matter of
transparency and accountability, which is professional conduct in our
modern
world. These days I get 'dry eye' when people take insult at my
demands for
their accountability. Its the only way and some people are starting to
get
the message.
But dont give up on us; too many are doing that here in the UK and in
the
US. We dont choose our families or our ethnic groups and I can tell
you our
problem is shared by peoples as far away from us as the Kurds of the
middle
East (when I tell Kurds I met in the Kurdish Human Rights Project
about my
frustrations, they laugh because it seems as if I am explaining the
problems
of their own people. People are people, wherever they come from). Some
people need to be helped and educated despite themselves, especially
our own
families and communities. We used to know this. We are barely into our
adolescence as a nation/ ethnic group, and it should be no surprise if
many
of us behave as such.
Those of us with exposure and knowledge need to slowly and painfully
educate
our communities and bring them up to speed. I want a home to go back
to
that's a nice place to live and patience and tenacity is the only way
that's
going to happen.
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Posted by: "Sahr Fasuluku LLB" sah...@yahoo.co.uk sahrfas
Tue Jul 1, 2008 6:20 am (PDT)
Reply to a discussion on the US based Kono Foundation discussion
group.
I sit on an interim Kono Committee in London with similar problems to
your
own, the other two Kono organisations in the UK also share these
problems. I
said recently at our general meeting, that we get the leaders we
deserve.
This was in reaction to a member throwing all responsibility for the
outcomes of our efforts solely onto the shoulders of 5 volunteer
committee
members with family and life commitments of their own. I stated that
the
ultimate responsibilty for the outcomes of the organisation lay with
the
membership and supporters.
Konos and Sierra Leoneans in general are yet to master the principles
of
accountability and transparency, but then this is a problem in the UK
and US
as well with most people wanting to be left to get on with their lives
while
others exercise democracy on their behalf. One of the fundamental
principles
is that we should not expect A & T to come at us proactively. In fact
it is
often in the interest of those running organisations to be reluctant.
It is
our responsibility as a community to demand A & T from the first day
of
business, before a single penny has changed hands, and continue to
insist
upon it throughout the life of an organisation.
When my bank manager demands to see proof of my address I do not say
'trust
me' and get annoyed when that is unnacceptable. Yet it is deemed
impolite or
even gravely insulting to insist on a receipt for say your valuable
passport
from Sierra Leonean Immigration in Freetown (just an example). I hear
'trust
me' 'we all nah famble' 'me nah yu brother' ' no worry' 'how bah'
'notu so
we de do am nah yah' 'yu feel say...' etc., etc., etc., etc., all the
time
from people I have dealings with in Sierra Leone and I find it
necessary to
constantly remind them it is not just a matter of trust, it is a
matter of
transparency and accountability, which is professional conduct in our
modern
world. These days I get 'dry eye' when people take insult at my
demands for
their accountability. Its the only way and some people are starting to
get
the message.
But dont give up on us; too many are doing that here in the UK and in
the
US. We dont choose our families or our ethnic groups and I can tell
you our
problem is shared by peoples as far away from us as the Kurds of the
middle
East (when I tell Kurds I met in the Kurdish Human Rights Project
about my
frustrations, they laugh because it seems as if I am explaining the
problems
of their own people. People are people, wherever they come from). Some
people need to be helped and educated despite themselves, especially
our own
families and communities. We used to know this. We are barely into our
adolescence as a nation/ ethnic group, and it should be no surprise if
many
of us behave as such.
Those of us with exposure and knowledge need to slowly and painfully
educate
our communities and bring them up to speed. I want a home to go back
to
that's a nice place to live and patience and tenacity is the only way
that's
going to happen.
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