THOUGHTS OF CHANGE

Upon returning from Sierra Leone in early 2013 I knew my life had been completely changed. One morning as I ended my meditation these words flooded into my mind. I sat down and out they flowed as you see them below. I want to share them with you now.

WHEN

When you want what you have, 

you never have to want

When you never have to want, 

you are free

When you are free, 

all possibilities exist

When all possibilities exist, 

you begin to BE

When you BE, 

you are aware

When you are aware, 

you are in the present

When you are in the present, 

you are at peace

When you are at peace, 

you are in your heart

When you are in your heart, 

you are one with the universe

When you are one with the universe, 

you are whole with your spirit

And then you remember the eternal you

Channeled By:

Sara J Waldheim

2/22/2013

FAMBUL TOK WALKING SIDE BY SIDE

KOINADUGU, SIERRA LEONE 2014

To recap for those who know and educate those who don’t, Fambul Tok does not GIVE the villagers anything: promises, money, shoes, clothes, etc.  Fambul Tok provides a people designed & owned, sustainable process creating a safe space to testify/confess/accuse about experiences during the war.  Fambul Tok promotes restorative justice, unity and healing through the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Once the villages in a section have had the bonfire night and the ancestor ceremony the following morning, the FT staff presents suggestions for the way forward reinforcing the walk side by side concept.  The villages in the section are encouraged to unify at the sectional level by establishing a community farm, micro-loan scheme, or any other activity that will create unity, healing and productivity.

To explain the walk side by side idea one example given to the participants is about taking a bath, (remember we are in a village environment with no running water, etc.)  The question is asked: what do you need to take a bath?

1. Bucket
2. Water
3. Soap
4. Sponge

You get the bucket, water, and soap, but lack the sponge.  At that point FT will provide the sponge.  In other words showing self initiative has to happen before FT provides help.  Also if FT provides tools for harvest, or building supplies, or casava grinders, whatever it is, they do not ask for anything in return.  Many NGOs or INGOs ask for a return for their help.

It was a great privilege for me to witness this in action.  One of the villages in Koinadugu needed a storage unit (called a store here) for their rice so they could sell it at a higher price later in the year when supplies are low.  Without a storage unit rodents and bugs destroy the crop causing the need to sell at a low price immediately after harvest when supplies are high. 

The section was told to show initiative by beginning the building of the store.  They needed the land, the sticks for roof support, and the mud bricks and all the labor to build the store.  Once they have this beginning accomplished, FT provides the nails, tin for roofing, doors, and cement to finish both inside and out. The villagers still provide the labor for completion.  

On the Tuesday after Easter Ibrahim, Rev, Desmond and I gathered the supplies from a business in Kabala to deliver to the village.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

Follows is a pictorial of that delivery: 

Ibrahim In Front of Store

Sticks For Roof in Peace Mothers' Office

Corner of Storage Space

Cement & Tin On Top

Unloading Cement

Bags and Boxes of Nails

Rev & Villager Getting Down The Tin

Rev. Carrying The Tin

KOINADUGU BONFIRE

KATHAWUYA VILLAGE & MR. DIE

APRIL 24, 2014

The last bonfire I will witness for this season took place in Wara Wara Yagala Chiefdom, Kayakor Section, Kathawuya Village.  This village is the place where Mohamed Savage, the man called Mr. Die during the war, made his last stand towards the end of the war.

A huge pit was dug by his men into which he was to throw the villagers and bury them alive, if they did not help him.  Fortunately, he was captured before any of that took place.  However, the stories of what he and his men did do during his reign of terror in the villages of this section were told this night.

There was thought about bringing Mohamed to the bonfire so he could ask for forgiveness.  He has asked for forgiveness in his home district of Kono, but has never been to Koinadugu for the same purpose.  The people want to know why.  

After conferring with the Paramount Chief, it was decided more preparation was needed on many different levels and a special bonfire will be held at a later date specifically for the purpose of Mohamed’s request for forgiveness and the villagers’ need to confront him.

Almost every testimony given I heard revolved around Mohamed and his men’s actions.  All were poignant, detailed, heart breaking, yet the relief in the voices of the tellers was palpable.  To release this pent up trauma was a new way forward for them.

One particular story touched me on a very deep level.  Not only because of what happen but also because of how it was told by the victim.  This was a difficult story to hear and will be a difficult one to read, so go no further if you feel this may be too much.

Mr. Die and his men entered this woman’s village.  She had a babe in arms and one in her belly.  After harassing  the woman, her child was thrown into the bush where she could hear it crying.  At some length she was allowed to go rescue him.

At that point Mohamed told her to choose: her child’s life or her life and the life of her unborn child.  She refused to make the choice.  He then took her child from her and threw him into the fire where she was forced to watch and listen as he burned to death.  The next morning she was commanded to go through the ashes and remove the remains of her child.

She said she will never forget what happened, but that she now has seven healthy children and she needs to cleanse herself of this trauma to go forward.  She realizes she cannot change the past but she can’t let the past poison her life now and the lives of her other children by filling her heart with hate.  She is willing to forgive.

The next morning the Honoring the Ancestor’s Ceremony was held.  A bowl of water with many Kola

Preparing for Ancestor Ceremony

Nuts floating in it was set before a white sheep who drank from it.  Prayers were said, the sheep slaughtered and the kola nut water poured on the ground.  A bull calf was also slaughtered as an additional sacrifice.  Yes, I watched it all and even took pictures this time.  Can’t say I felt any less squeamish though and, no, I will not post those pictures here.

Praying & Petting the Sheep 

I have mentioned in other blogs how blessed I am to have the privilege to serve with Fambul Tok and how much I love the people.  An old woman in the village stopped me as I was going to the car to leave.  She grasped my hands and bowed wishing me luck and giving me thanks in her language of Limbe.  Continuing to hold her hands, I bowed to her and returned her sentiment in her language.  As I looked into her  shining eyes, I could see her beautiful soul.  She pointed to her eyes and then to mine acknowledging the connection.

Words cannot express how I still feel...........

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

EASTER SUNDAY CHURCH IN KABALA & EASTER MONDAY FESTIVAL

SIERRA LEONE, 2014

Easter Sunday presented a great opportunity to attend a church service Sierra Leone style.  A Fambul Tok staff member, Rev. Emmanuel, invited me to come with him and his family to the Wesleyan church in Kabala.  What a wonderful experience it was.

When we arrived at the church pre-service bible study was going on with men on one side, women on the other inside the church, and youth and children outside. At the end of bible study the pastor (not Rev) instructed us to go outside and line up since we were all going to process into the church and down the aisle.

Rev’s wife grabbed me and guided me where to stand.  I had been very comfortable at the back of the church in an outside seat.  As we processed back in I ended up in the front row!!!  So much for keeping a low profile.  Actually, being the only white there I guess that was impossible anyway!!!

Then the service began!  There was singing, there was dancing, there was praying, there was a competition collection between the men, women, youth, children, and mothers.  A basket was placed on the table up front and the various categories danced and sang up to the table putting their money in the basket.  The basket was whisked away, emptied and returned between categories.  The men won because a visitor from America (Sierra Leonean) put in $40.00 = to 180,000SLL!

The actual sermon lasted about 20 minutes and was very interesting.  The entire service lasted for 3 hours!!!  The time flew, however, and I was amazed we had been there that long.  Getting up to dance on a regular basis sure keeps the blood flowing and the boredom at bay.

The next morning, Easter Monday, I joined the FT district team on visits to two villages.  The purpose was to interact with members of the Outreach Committee and the villagers making sure they were sufficiently

Meeting Before Bonfire

sensitized for the sectional Bonfire to take place on Thursday, 24 April.  My observation of this piece concluded witnessing all the steps leading up to the Bonfires that take place each year.

Then some of us were off to an Easter Festival taking place in a remote village.  Desmond, Jalloh, Ibrahim, Rev & his son, me and Mohamed made the journey.

When we arrived the place was already crowded, but still spacious enough to move around.  The village was in a fabulous setting by a river with a sand beach below a wooded area with hand made bamboo benches in the shade.  I could live there!!!  It was so peaceful.

Me, Ibrahim & Desmond

The Minister of Transportation (he personally paid to improve the road leading there to the tune of millions of dollars from his wealth amassed in US and England), Minister of Tourism and another VIP I can’t recall. 

Food and drink were flowing, both free and being sold by enterprising people.  A volley ball game was ongoing and Ibrahim joined that at one point.  Music and dancing and, of course, speeches.

Rev, Mohamed, Jalloh. Really there were having fun!!!

We wandered around people watching, sitting and listening.  People kept arriving by the semi-truck load all piled in the back, by motorbike, cars, vans and began pouring in to the park.  It seemed that one of the FT staff or Mohamed knew at least one member of the new arrivals. At one point the attendance estimate was well over 2,000.

When we left hours later people were still arriving and

People Watching

parking space was at a premium.  I loved every minute.  The people watching opportunities were just the greatest.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

BONFIRE MOYAMBA & AN ADVENTURE

SIERRA LEONE, 2014

As I was waiting in Kabala for the next bonfire to take place in Koinadugu, I received a call telling me the bonfire will be postponed for a week and, if a car was sent, will I want to go to Moyamba to witness one there?  Did that question even need to be asked?????

Since I will be gone for only one night, I kept my room in Kabala as I will stay in the village in Moyamba.  Early (6:30) that morning Desmond arrived knocking on my door and calling out Grandma Sara, I’m here!!!  He had left Freetown before dawn.  I told him to go get some sleep because we really didn’t need to leave until around noon.

As I have stated before, I wait until the bonfire is starting to sneak in very quietly.  We left at noon and arrived at the Moyamba district office at about 4:30PM.  We will need to leave the office about 6 because of the very rough road that Desmond wishes to drive while there is as much light as possible.

Here’s where the adventure part begins.  It was my understanding someone from the district office will meet us to show us the way to the village.  Desmond speaks with one of the district staff who gives him instructions how to get there, but first we must stop to see the paramount chief.  No one will be meeting us at the office.

There is a Secret Society ceremony taking place between where we are and where we need to go.  The transit area falls in another chiefdom thus the stop.  The paramount chief of the bonfire chiefdom phones (oh, the modern era of cell towers) the other paramount chief to make sure we will not be “molested” if we drive through that area.  He is assured it is “safe” for us to travel, so on we go.

Until we reach a tree across the road.  A biker comes along and Desmond asks if there is a road around this obstruction.  He points to little wider than a single vehicle lane to the left of the fallen tree (called a stick in Krio).  It is now about 6:45.  The village we want is only 18 miles or less than an hour (bad roads, remember) away.

Desmond skillfully navigates the “cow path” which continues to narrow to the point where we wonder if we will be able to get through.  The vegetation boarding the edge of the road soars above our vehicle on both sides effectively putting us in a narrow open topped winding tunnel.  We finally “pop” out the end at a T in the road.  We have been told to make a right at that T by the biker.

Stopping at regular intervals to ask directions we finally make it to the round-a-bout we need.  Traveling about 15 minutes further we ask directions again.  This time the person asked points back to where we just came!  Another man gets involved who seems to have a different opinion.  To make matters more interesting the network coverage in the area is spotty and keeps going in and out when I try to reach one of the staff.

We finally get through long enough to have a conversation and are told to meet him at the tree down across the road!!!!  The same tree where we started our detour.  It is now 8:30.  No problem, we found our way here we should be able to easily find our way back, right?  NOT!!!

At 9:15 we finally meet up with our staff member and are told the tree is there ON PURPOSE!!!!!  There is a bridge out just past the village where we are going and the tree is to stop traffic from using the road.  Is there a sign on or around the tree to this effect, did the paramount chief tell us, did the district staff tell us? -NO.  Desmond was furious at this point at the waste of gasoline, the trauma of driving unknown, dark, lonely back roads, and the lack of communication.

How, you ask, did we get to the village with the “stick” blocking the road?  We plowed through the brush at the right end of the tree.  Gotta’ love those Toyota Land Cruisers with the “bush bars” attached to the front.  We arrived at the bonfire at about 9:45, over 3 hours after we left the office!!!

The adventure continues.  As I have stated I am to keep in the background at the bonfires.  This one will be the exception.  When I arrive I am told special food has been prepared just for me, so off I go to a house nearby to enjoy a delicious goat stew.

After eating I sneak back to sit in a seat by the car at the back of the bonfire.  There were benches of people in front of me.  Little by little the benches were moved so soon I was part of the bonfire circle!  During a dance break in testimonies, the male dance troop hired to entertain stopped in front of me to perform.  I turned to Theresa from FT district staff and told her we needed to put the benches back and take the focus off of me. 

However, the women had other ideas coming over to insist I dance with them around the bonfire.  At this point it would be rude to refuse, so dance I did.  One by one the village men in the audience came out to dance with me, as one faded away another took his place.  

I ended up doing a crazy leg dance with one of the dance troop which prompted the women to hustle me back to my chair.  Theresa told me my moves were the same the secret society devil uses when he dances!!!  

The testimonies resumed with even more enthusiasm than before and I was able to fade into the background again staying there until we all went to bed at 3AM.  The most interesting testimony involved two men.  One man was asking the forgiveness of the other because of stealing from him during the war.  The other man said he felt as responsible for the man’s actions and that they were both equally perpetrators and victims to each other!!!  They linked arms and forgave each other.

Desmond and I left at 5AM so we could pick up Ibrahim and Rev Emmanuel and take them back to Kabala with us.  They had attended a workshop in Freetown and were able to get only partway back.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

PS No pictures for this one.  :-(

KONO STAKEHOLDERS MEETING

FAMBUL TOK SIERRA LEONE 2014

In my last blog I mentioned a high level stakeholders meeting.  This meeting is part of a US State Department grant as a follow-up of the non-violent election sensitization grant from 2012.  The grant for the election focused on women for the purpose of using and training the Peace Mothers as Peace Ambassadors.

The purpose of this meeting is to gather the stakeholders who are responsible for solving women’s issues and two Peace Mothers from each chiefdom.  A representative of each stakeholder gave a presentation outlining the roles and responsibilities as pertaining to women’s issues specifically. The Peace Mothers presented a list of concerns.  It was then determined who of the stakeholders would be the responsible party to assist.

We needed City Councilors, Members of Parliament,

Paramount Chiefs, MPs and Education Minister

Paramount Chiefs, Deputy Mayor and Mayor to attend.  Working to get all of these players is like herding cats, so we were extremely blessed the day we pulled up to the City Council building to find out they were all in a meeting!!

Because the Deputy Mayor is a woman and this meeting

Council Woman with Mayor In Background

is about meeting women's needs, Micheala decided to get her involved so we could chat with a representative of each group before their meeting adjourned.  This was accomplished and the meeting date, time and venue set.  All stakeholders agreed to attend!!!!  We even were able to get the Director of Education.

Pre-meeting gatherings were held for the Deputy Mayor, Mayor, Paramount Chiefs, City Council members and Peace Mothers.  The gatherings were informal allowing for questions and discussions before the formal meeting.  The purpose was to make sure the loss of

Peace Mothers

control that happened in Kailahun (an earlier blog) is avoided here.  We learn from our experiences.

The meeting was a wonderful success.  The only fly in the ointment was the Member of Parliament who took the opportunity to make a long winded speech.  Oh well, once a politician gets the floor.............

We came away from the meeting convinced the bridges between all the groups and a new understanding of each were begun.  Follow-ups will be conducted to determine to level of success and to reinforce roles and responsibilities.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

TRADITIONAL JUSTICE METHODS

KONO, SIERRA LEONE 2014

While we were in Kono preparing for a high level stakeholders meeting, I was able to witness a traditional “lie detector test” and other ceremonies.

One night there was a theft in our Guest House in Kono.  The thief struck in the middle of the night with the sleeping occupants in their rooms.  He targeted only two rooms.  Rooms where computers and mobile phones were in plain sight.  One room was on the second floor, the other on the first.  Both rooms faced a side security wall and narrow, poorly lit alley.

The police were called once the thefts were discovered.  A plainclothes detective examined both rooms and the outside area.  The second floor room was reached by a ladder to a sliding glass window; the first floor room by cutting through the mesh (screen).  Unlike all other guest houses I have stayed, there are no iron bars on the inside of the windows.

It was fortunate no one was hurt, but, of course, the loss of equipment was devastating.  While this did not involve my room, it did involve my colleague, Micheala.  She was beside herself as you can imagine.  Both of her laptops, a mobile phone and phone pad were taken - without their chargers!!

The man on the first floor who lost his laptop and a mobile phone was a traditional man - read, pagan, secret society, voodoo - whatever.  Once it was established it had to be an inside job, he called in a woman to perform a ritual to determine if the accused is telling the truth.  I watched this from an upstairs balcony looking down into the gazebo.

(I have a video of the process, but was unable to load it on the blog.  Will try again when I get home to faster internet service.)

The men who were to be processed were seated in a semi-circle.  The traditional man sat in a chair facing them.  A long round stick about 4 inches in diameter was placed on the floor.  The subject then sat balancing his behind on the stick knees in the air.  After wiping them

Starting To Pull Woven  Sticks

with some kind of powder, the woman wove two sets of thin straws together.  Standing behind the person she placed the woven straws on the person’s throat.  Then two statements were made to the suspect: deny you know anything about the theft, deny you had any part in the theft.  If the suspect was telling the truth when she pulled on the woven straws they easily pulled apart.  If not, when she pulled the straws stayed locked together as she pulled the man down on the ground!

With two men the straws caught them on the first statement, but parted easily on the second.  This means they knew something about it, but did not take part.  In all others except one the straws parted easily for both denials.  With the one man he was drug fairly violently down to the ground on both denials.  In the minds of all there he was the guilty party.  He also happened to be the man who cleaned the rooms involved the day of the night of the theft.

He continued to deny all charges with a defiant, unrepentant, arrogant attitude.  Both of the men who failed the first denial had seen the cleaner in the compound in the early morning hours, but did nothing about it.  They said because he worked there they didn’t think they should call the police.

The police took the accused away to the police department first stopping at his house where they found no evidence other than a secret ritual (read black magic) his family was conducting!!!

In the meantime the other victim called in a soothsayer/shaman.  He consulted his scrying tool which was a round object with figures in 3D relief inside.  He then made a recommendation for a ritual to be performed which would bring someone to them that could shed some light on the stolen property.

The ritual was this: 

Gather these things:

1. A bowl full of water
2. 3 white never been lit candles
3. 1 raw egg

The traditional man and 5 others stood around the bowl bending over the bowl with 3 of them holding the candles now lit.  An Imam said a prayer. The traditional man took all three lit candles and dunked them in the water.  Taking the raw egg he smashed it between his hands, washed his hands in the water and emptied the bowl on the floor.

Within 20 minutes a young man appeared asking for the guest house owner.  He was surprised to see the traditional man, whom he knew.  When asked he confirmed a young man that morning had entered his establishment (computer store) wanting to sell 3 laptops!

That’s as far as it all went.  It is over a week now and nothing has been recovered, but it sure was interesting to see regular law enforcement, a religious leader and tribal law working together.  The guest house owner made the statement the young man who did the deed, if he did not confess and return the items, will die!!!!

The secret ceremony being performed by the alleged thief’s family?  They are reputed to deal in the black arts and it is said they could put a spell on the victims making them so sound asleep they would not hear or feel anything. 

I love this kind of stuff so followed all activities involved.  Until proven otherwise I believe anything is possible.  And, no, we will not stay in that guest house again.  In fact, I wanted to stay in another one from the beginning.  Not because I had any feeling about it, I just was used to and enjoyed the other one.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

SCHOOLS QUIZ KABALA JSS

KOINADUGU DISTRICT

As I stated in one of my past blogs, Fambul Tok is rolling out a new school program this year at the Junior Secondary and Secondary level.  The ages of the students range from 12 to 18+.  In the 6 Fambul Tok working districts 5 schools have been selected to be a part of the Wan Fambul  (One Family) Peace Club program.  For the rollout 50 students, 25 boys and 25 girls, (there’s that balance again) are chosen to be in the club and are called Peace Makers.  

The schools are a mix of private, public, religious based and vocational.  They cover the different areas representative of the district.  School administrators choose the candidates to be the facilitators; 1 woman, 1 man.  The candidates are vetted by Fambul Tok HQ to make sure they understand and embrace the FT values. After the facilitators were confirmed from all the schools in the roll out,  they were brought into Freetown for a two day training program.  

There is a student workbook that covers The Fambul Tok Documentary which the students are shown.  It explores demographics and culture, presents the chronology of the country from the origins through post-war.  It explains the difference between traditional justice and restorative justice taking the students through the Fambul Tok values and peace process.  

The purpose of the Wan Fambul Peace Clubs is to create a group of students who are trained in peaceful intervention and mediation in all areas of their lives at school, play and home.  It teaches the importance and benefit of peace VS violence in handling conflict.  They are given the confidence  to intervene even in the case of student vs teacher or mother vs father.  They are the light of peace.

The students who are interested in being a part of the Wan Fambul Peace Club fill out an application.  The applicants are chosen from the quality of their application, faculty recommendations, and peer support through a vetting process.  They must show some of the characteristics of the Fambul Tok values and have a passion about creating peace.

A quiz was developed by a team of Fambul Tok staff lead by Rev Emanuel and is designed to test the level of knowledge and understanding of the Fambul Tok Student Workbook.  When asked by the Rev, it was my honor to give input to the format of the quiz which proved to be a valuable addition (according to the team).

Recently I witnessed a quiz contest in Kabala at the Kabala JSS (Junior Secondary School).  When we (district staff and I) arrived at the school the peace club facilitators , Aminata and Ba Ba, met us and took us to meet the principal: Mr. Albert S. Korio.  After we were seated Mr. Korio began to wax poetic about the Fambul

Mr Albert S Korio, Principal

Tok project.

The mouths of the staff fell open as he extolled the benefits of establishing the club in his school.  He said:

1. The students involved show a sharp up turn in their scholastic results.
2. Their confidence is greatly improved including the ability to speak in front of the school assembly.
3. They are noticeably more peaceful in their conduct and are willing to interact positively with their teachers and peers.
4. The other students are reacting positively to those in the Peace Club causing a more overall peaceful atmosphere in the school.
5. Integrity and honesty have greatly improved among them as well as their pride in themselves.

He went on to say he is behind Fambul Tok 100% and will do anything they ask of him to further the peace club project!

We all applauded and thanked him profusely.  I spoke in behalf of  headquarters staff telling him I felt the quality and support of the facilitators along with his support are key factors in the success.  It exemplifies the “walk side by side” philosophy of Fambul Tok.  Thus the program is successful because Fambul Tok, himself, the students and the facilitators are walking side by side to make it so. 

Wow! We left the meeting on cloud nine!!!  Next we gathered with the students to conduct the quiz.  The quiz is made up of 50 questions covering all aspects of

Peace Club Members
Bracelets from Sarah Mufson and friends were given out
a few days before this contest.

the Student Workbook.  The 50 members are given the questions with the answers blank and the page number in the book where to find the answers.  Then the students study the quiz, find the answers and memorize the questions and answers in preparation for the quiz.

Two teams, A&B, are chosen by the facilitators and are

Answering The Question Team and Judges Behind

made up of 6 students on each team; 3 boys and 3 girls.  The rest of the members are the audience.  In a rotating method alternating boys and girls and teams, they then chose from a basket of papers with a quiz question number contained on each paper.  There are both individual winners and a winning team.  The winners (1st,2nd,3rd) are the ones who get the highest marks from answering the questions.  

This contest was a great success as there were ties for 2nd (3 students) and 3rd (2 students) place. It was decided all the students who tied will get prizes.

The first place winner won with 16 points and was the only winning girl.  It was my pleasure to present her with her first prize gifts.

Presenting First Prize Gifts

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara