Communities in Sierra Leone: Finding Hope After Conflict Whitney McIntyre Miller

1. Communities in Sierra Leone:
Finding Hope After Conflict
WHITNEY MCINTYRE MILLER
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY
JULY 27, 2009

2. Purpose of Presentation
 Demonstrate how communities in the northern
region of Sierra Leone are finding hope and
beginning to reemerge from an extended, disastrous
period in its history through an examination of
agentive, cultural, and structural key factors.

3. Data Collection
 Five-week fieldwork in Sierra Leone (Lungi and
Makeni communities)
 In-depth qualitative interviews with 14
individuals in each community (based on
purposeful demographic sampling)
 Participant Observation
 Informal conversations and meetings

4. STATSTICS:
Republic of Sierra Leone
President: Ernest Koroma (2007)
Land area: 27,653 sq mi (71,621 sq
km); total area: 27,699 sq mi
(71,740 sq km)
Population (2007 est.): 6,144,562
(growth rate: 2.3%); birth rate:
45.4/1000; infant mortality rate:
158.3/1000; life expectancy: 40.6;
density per sq mi: 222
Languages: English (official),
Mende (southern vernacular),
Temne (northern vernacular), Krio
(lingua franca)
Ethnicity/race: 20 native African
tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende
30%, other 30%); Creole (Krio)
10%; refugees from Liberia's recent
civil war, small numbers of
Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis,
and Indians
Religions: Islam 60%, indigenous
30%, Christian 10%
Literacy rate: 35.1% (2004 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP
(2007 est.): $3.971 billion; per
capita $700.

5. The Roots of the Conflict in Sierra Leone
 Roots of Conflict in Sierra Leone
 Control of resources- diamonds
 Issues of power in local and national government
 Disenchanted youth

6. Overview of Conflict
 Attacks on communities
 Fleeing of people
 Burning and looting of houses
 Amputations
 Involvement from international community
 Push of rebels into the north
 Formal peace agreement and cessation of violence
 Community building postconflict

7. Research Findings Organization
 ‘Mediational System’ of Reflexivity (Datnow,
Hubbard, and Mehan, 2002)
 Agentive Factors Culture
 Individual’s Actions
 Cultural Factors
 Traditions and Practices
 Structural Factors
 Social Constructs
Structure Agency

8. Agentive Factors for Hope
 Traditional Leadership (Chief Structure)
 Community Leaders
 District Governmental Leadership
 National Governmental Leadership
 Women (Makeni only)

9. Cultural Factors for Hope
 Agriculture/Farming Practices
 Business Partnerships
 Community Meeting Spaces
 Community Groups and
Informal Associations
 Sports
 Traditional Ceremonies
 Traditional Societies
 Avoidance of Community Disputes

10. Structural Factors for Hope
 Army and Police
 Construction
 Education (including skills training)
 Infrastructure
 International Assistance
 Jobs
 Local NGOs
 Mass Media (Makeni only)
 Religious Assistance

11. Lessons For Other Communities
 Involve local and traditional leaders and citizens in
rebuilding physical and social capital
 Encourage informal and formal community groups,
cooperatives, and organizations to work together
 Tap into traditional norms, activities, and events that
bring people together
 Meet educational needs for the community’s future

12. Future Research
 Wider net of communities in northern region of Sierra
Leone
 Comparison with communities in eastern and southern
regions of Sierra Leone
 Comparison with other postconflict communities
around the world

13. Contact Information
Whitney McIntyre Miller
whitneymcintyremiller@hotmail.com
619-829-4141