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Amsterdam - 22 July 2008 - War Child Holland has published a report 'Let pikin bisniss be all men bisniss' on the psychosocial recovery of communities in post-war Sierra Leone. In this report the organisation draws attention to the problems facing children in post-war Sierra Leone, explains how War Child's work is helping to find solutions to these problems, and lists the results achieved through the
programme. The results themselves are based on extensive research among
1,200 respondents from six communities. Awareness of children's rights
has increased considerably. And various research results have shown
that the level of harmony in the communities has improved. The report
can be downloaded at www.warchild.nl/publications.
THE PROGRAMME
Since 2003, War Child Holland has been working in 61 rural villages in
Sierra Leone on the recovery of peaceful communities where there is a
focus on the needs of children. The aim is to improve their
psychosocial wellbeing and to empower children and young people. Tribal
chiefs, teachers, parents, other adults, children and young people
jointly define the problems children have and what needs to be done to
tackle them. Community action groups are set up to organise and support
this work. Recreational, creative, sporting, cultural and social
activities are used to broach all kinds of subjects ranging from child
labour to drug use, new skills and new behaviour are learned, and
cooperation and initiatives are encouraged.
MEASURING THE RESULTS
Three measurements were carried out: one prior to the programme, one a
year into the programme and a third two years after the start of the
programme. The results were measured on the basis of five indicators
for success, formulated when the programme was drawn up. These
indicators provide information on the extent to which the community
contributes to the healthy psychosocial development of children and
young people. The indicators relate to: psychosocial problems of
children and young people, support from adults and peers, access to
play opportunities and participation in community activities, awareness
of children's rights, and positive communication and interaction.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, SUPPORT, PARTICIPATION AND EXPRESSION
Awareness of children's rights has increased considerably. This is the
most important and most obvious result of the programme. The vast
majority of the members of the community were very much aware of
children's rights by the end of the programme. There are also
indications that this has led to positive change in the behaviour of
adults. Children feel they are being supported more, and are allowed to
participate in meetings and in activities more often. They are allowed
to express themselves and their views are being heard. These are all
important factors for empowering children and young people, and these
results show that the community-based programme helps in this regard.
MORE HARMONY, POSITIVE COMMUNICATION, RESPECT
Various research results have shown that the level of harmony in the
communities has improved. There is now more positive communication and
respectful interaction between children and adults. Children and adults
also report a drop in aggressive behaviour. These results are confirmed
by the fact that more than half the adults and children regard "the
increase in the degree of harmony within the community" as being the
biggest change to have taken place as a result of the War Child
programme. On the basis of these results, we can conclude that the
programme has helped to build peaceful communities. It is to be
expected that the results apply to a large section of the community,
including the former child soldiers. In a harmonious environment in
which people respect each other and in which people talk and listen to
one another, in which children and young people are allowed to have a
say and express themselves in sport, music and dance, former child
soldiers also have the opportunity to put their pasts behind them and
build towards a new, peaceful future.them and build towards a new,
peaceful future.them and build towards a new, peaceful future.them and
build towards a new, peaceful future.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
The research generated contradictory results regarding play
opportunities for children and their participation in community
activities. Even before the start of the programme it was clear that
children in fact already had sufficient playtime and access to play
areas. However, at the same time, the respondents referred to the
increase in opportunities for children to play as one of the most
significant changes resulting from the programme. Further research is
necessary to determine the extent to which play opportunities for
children are limited, and which activities are most suitable for
ensuring that is improvements are made. Contradictory results were also
found relating to support provided by parents. This research revealed
that parental support was already reasonably high before the start of
the programme. However, other participatory needs assessments performed
outside the scope of this research have revealed that precisely the
lack of parental support is one of the major problems. It is
recommended that further research be carried out into this issue as
well.further research be carried out into this issue as well.further
research be carried out into this issue as well.further research be
carried out into this issue as well.
IN CONCLUSION
The outcomes of this survey will enable War Child to improve the
content of the community-based programme. There are also a number of
valuable lessons in relation to the execution of research such as this.
These are referred to in the full research report at
http://www.warchild.nl/publications/. Lastly, the research also
contributes to the measurability of the effects of psychosocial support
programmes in current and former conflict areas.
THE RESEARCH REPORT IS AVAILABLE AT: www.warchild.nl/publications (scroll down to the English verion of the report)
Survey on the psychosocial recovery of communities in post-war Sierra Leone
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