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