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[Speaker] Welcome!
[Singing]
[Singing group leader] Welcome again!
[Singing]
[Singing group leader] My people, an incident took place in this our beloved land, mother Sierra Leone, between the period of 1991 to the year 2001. It was not easy for Sierra Leoneans. It was a bitter, bitter incident, which took place.
[Emmanuel Tomy] The conflict in many ways, it really wasn’t about ethnicity. It was not pitching one tribe against the other. That said, I want to believe that the conflict was more about people who felt they had nothing to lose because their back was against the wall.
[Drumming music]
[Emmanuel Tomy] The CAR, child advocacy and rehabilitation, is actually targeting young people that were affected by the war, they took part actively in the war, they’ve been child soldiers, or they were carriers, or sex workers or wives of the fighters.
[Salamatu Kargbo] When they attacked me they held me and killed my papa so after they said “go with me”. [Speaking in Krio with subtitles] I didn’t know where my family were. I was forced to go with the rebels.
[Sounds of drama group performing traumas they experienced]
[Sounds of drumming together with sounds of cloth weaving and bricklaying]
[Salamatu Kargbo] The Red Cross interviewed me and they made me glad because during that time… [Speaking in Krio with English subtitles] …I was quite unhappy, as my life was in a mess. I feel so much better. The teacher encourages me, helps me forget everything from the war.
[Sounds of women chatting and hairdressing]
[Salamatu Kargbo] [Speaking in English and Krio with English subtitles] I saw in the centre that other girls are bringing their kids. I was told if I don’t have someone to take care of my son, I can bring him to the day care here.
[Emmanuel Tomy] You have a situation where you still have huge numbers of young people who should be at work, but don’t have the opportunity to work. There is still that element that could easily pull the whole society back. We started with the overall effort of ensuring that the peace in the country is sustained by making sure that young people have a sustainable livelihood.
[Sounds of woodwork hammering]
[Alusine Foday Bangura] [Speaking in English and Krio with English subtitles] I lost my mother and father in the war. There was no one to take care of me, only my sister and after awhile she said she couldn’t take care of me anymore. I like carpentry because it’s a good opportunity for me. I like it a lot. With my money I’m able to buy clothes. If I want to go out, I’m able to enjoy my life and go meet my friends.
[Group singing]
[Salamatu Kargbo] [Speaking in English and Krio with English subtitles] For me, I think my future is going to change, because I’m not the same person as a year ago. So I tell Papa God thank you. I know my future will be different.
[Group singing]