A few years later
some relief came to our family when the Magboso Integrated Agricultural
Development Project entered our Chiefdom Community (Yoni). The project
established a Rice-mill Unit in order to help the farmers improve food
security. Due to my hard work and sincerity, the community selected
me, along with two others, to represent them in the management of the
Rice-mill.
While working in that capacity, I acquired invaluable knowledge, skills
and experience, not only in operating the Rice Unit, but also in providing
meaningful advice to the farmers. My hard work and cordial relationship
with the farmers led to the establishment in 1989 of the Association
we called the Mixed Farmers Association.
Contact with
Mike Thomas, FIOH UK
Michael
Victor Thomas visited Sierra Leone first in 1988 and made his second
visit in 1993. It was during the second visit that I came in contact
with him. Mike participated in a Seminar at Port Loko on primary health
care, organic farming and appropriate technology organised by Sierra
Leonian friends in Freetown. He gave a talk on appropriate technology.
I was lucky to be among the more than 100 people who attended. Out of
the skills and knowledge I acquired during the workshop, I organised
a Chiefdom - level meeting of all farmers immediately I arrived home.
A lot of ideas were shared, gained and exchanged; and above all a Union
of Farmers (named FIOH - FARMERS UNION) was formed.
The Union's activities
were largely supported by the local members and, in some instances by
the FIOH-UK. Mike lobbied other charitable organisations outside of
Sierra Leone and sought to support our activities
through the Future In Our Hands Education
and Development Fund of which he is the chairman. Support, both
technical and otherwise, was given to the Farmers Union.
The Union organised training and workshops, as well as project implementation.
Later we changed the name to Future in our Hands Sierra Leone and extended
our work to other areas of the country.
Despite being a
school dropout (due to my father's death), my knowledge and experience
in community based development work is today admired by many people
both literate and illiterate. This achievement is strongly associated
with the growth and development of FIOH Sierra Leone.
The war and the
dark days in Sierra Leone
The period
1991 to 2001 could be referred to (like Kwame N'Krumah's description)
as the "Dark days in Sierra
Leone".
The rebel war in Liberia during 1990 spilt over into Sierra Leone by
March 1991. By then FIOH Sierra Leone was gaining momentum gradually
in both Yoni Chiefdom and its neighbouring surroundings.
In 1991 the country was still under the All Peoples Congress (APC) rule
which had gained power (democratically) during the 2nd post Independence
Elections.
From 1991 to 1992 the war was still away from our operational areas
and so more and more people became interested in the Organisation.
On April 29, 1992
a military regime called the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC),
overthrew the APC and promised to end the rebel war speedily and return
the country to civilian rule. They continued to rule but forgot their
promise. The war escalated and spread to many parts of Sierra Leone.
By December 1994 the initial headquarters of FIOH - SL. (Yoni Chiefdom)
was attacked and a lot of people were killed. Homes food and livestock
were also destroyed. Many people went into bush camps to seek refuge,
and several economic activities, including farming, were drastically
disrupted by the War. The management and staff of FIOH - SL had to change
its mandate to Emergency Relief Assistance. Our staff moved from one
Bush Camp to another to provide relief assistance to the members and
other vulnerable people. During these activities the FIOH - SL lost
no less than nine staff and helpers due to attacks made by the Revolutionary
United Front (RUF) Rebels. Many others, including myself, narrowly escaped
death. While supervising the Bush Camp activities, I was caught in three
serious ambushes by the rebels and other fighters. In one such ambush
I was shot in my right leg and sustained several other injuries.
However, the activities of FIOH
- SL during the war gained admiration and so attracted many Humanitarian
Organisations both at home and abroad. These included the World Food
Programme (WFP), World Vision, CARE International and the FIOH Education
and Development Fund and the Community Fund in the UK. All of these
and many others have collaboratively worked with FIOH in several ways
(Viz: food and non-food items, trainings, monitoring and supervision
and the like).
After the war
Post war activities
of FIOH - SL were basically focused on Recovery and Reintegration. These
supported the ongoing peace building, resettlement and reintegration
of the people back to their home areas.
If medals were given to the first three NGO'S that had operated in newly
released Rebel Areas (particularly in the North), FIOH - SL will surely
have one. And so up to date we are thickly involved in helping the destabilised
communities resettle themselves in the North of Sierra Leone. We operate
in Food Security, Human Rights Monitoring, Capacity Building for Community
Based Organisation, Micro Credit Loan Schemes and Management, Skills
Training, etc.
Our strength
The hard work
of FIOH SL led to the establishment of the following offices:
- 12 Lunsar Road, Makeni
- 34 Back Street, Mile 91
- 9 Bathurst Street (Headquarters) in Freetown.
Weaknesses
Irrespective
of the above, the FIOH - SL largely needs the following items in order
to expedite work:-
I. A means of transport (Vehicles, Motorbikes etc)
II. Office equipment (Computers, Generators, Printers Photocopiers etc).
III. Logistics for staff and volunteers
IV. Capacity Building for staff and volunteer (viz.: National and International
Trainings etc)
