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)
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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