Owing to the high level of violence in the country, more especially in schools and higher institutions, the Dream+Team and Connecting Classroom Sub-Saharan Africa, both organisations operating under the British Council, upon a research conducted among the youth population in Sierra Leone concluded that youth are grossly involved in the act of violence and have resolved to it as a way of life.
The Project Co-ordinator Mr. Joseph Abu said that Connecting Classroom Project is running across sub-Saharan Africa with plans to undertake peace and conflict Resolution in order to utterly stamp out violence. It is believed that post-war repercussion is characterised by violence, of which Sierra Leone is no exception. The project therefore suggests that one of the mechanisms to stop violence is a massive sensitization throughout the country, engaging schools, youth groups and tertiary institutions. The group is based in Scotland and the two weeks presence of its membership in Sierra Leone has given them insight on how violence can be tackled nationwide.
In a recent workshop conducted, he said, 55% of students and youth population were gathered for the purpose of sensitization. The same programme he said is going to be staged in the provinces for effective participation and positive result. This will be climaxed with a peace march, starting from Victoria Park on the 17th October, 2009 and a subsequent Mini-Sport Festival on the 25 and 26, October 2009.
Mr. Abu further maintained that the organisation has been working relentlessly to contribute in the drive to curb violence. In this regard, the organisation has engaged institutions who are equally driving forces in putting a stop to violent behaviour among the youth population. He further mentioned that the main objective of the project is not only to eliminate violence in our societies but to also bring about positive social change in the lives of the young, help students and young people become responsible and active citizens, build the research capacity of students and enhance peaceful co-existence among students, the police, youth and the nation as a whole.
Mr. Graeme Cockburn who is the principal Teacher, Pupil Support-Harvick High School in Scotland mentioned that his impression about Sierra Leone is appreciable considering the dungeon it has emanated from. Mr. Cockburn stated that even though violence is not on a high scale in his home town Scotland, but they will use the research conducted on the cause of violence and the way forward to stopping it. This, he said, would be facilitated through massive sensitization and consultative meetings with target groups in Sierra Leone and other sub-Saharan African Countries.
By Poindexter Sama
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