IMPRESSIONS OF KAILAHUN

It was requested I write my impressions of one of the districts that is posing more of a challenge than the others.  I thought I would share them with you, my blog readers, as well.

Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

In order to present my impressions of the Kailahun District I need to take you back to 2012 and my observations of the meetings there and in Kono and Koinadugu, the other two border districts very heavily effected during the war. 

In October 2012 Fambul Tok was conducting Chiefdom Dialogs sensitizing the sections for a peaceful election in the three districts considered the “hot spots”.  A core group of Peace Mothers representing the Fambul Tok sections in Kailahun, Kono and Koinadugu were trained as Peace Ambassadors.  They were given the information and tools necessary to take to their villages to sensitize the village population. 

Before attending meetings in Kailahun, I journeyed to Kono and Koinadugu to observe the sensitization there.  While the atmosphere may have differed slightly from meeting to meeting, the overall feeling was positive, and level of interest keen.  Group interaction from both men and women was supportive of the efforts for a peaceful election.

The women met us at the car dancing and singing creating a feeling of joy.  The singing and dancing continued all the way to the Peace Tree where the meetings took place.  It was evident most of the men were supportive of the women and their roles as Peace Ambassadors.  Attendance at the meetings was well balanced between genders.

Driving into Kailahun I felt a heaviness in the energy.  Before visiting any villages or attending the meetings I could sense a very big difference in the atmosphere.  My first meeting was to be the day after arriving.  As I was going to sleep all I could think about was how the energy differed and wondering why.

Over the course of the next few days I rode along with the Fambul Tok staff conducting the dialogs for a peaceful election.  Never were we met at the car with singing and dancing.  It took an effort to get the women to dance at all.  The men who did attend were mostly sullen, disengaged, and obviously not in support of the Peace Mother Ambassador effort.  Gender balance did not exist.  There was an absence of the same general feeling of joy and willingness to unify that I felt in Koinadugu and Kono.

Sometimes the attendees were more interested in speaking about the issues and problems around the local elections VS sensitizing for a peaceful general election.  In some cases it took great effort to keep the meeting on track.

Upon arriving in Salone January 2014 I am whisked up country to Moyamba to attend a ToT (Training of Trainers).  Then to Pujehun to attend Chiefdom Dialogs and Stakeholders Meetings and back to Moyamba for the same purpose.  These two districts, which are new to me, also have a feeling of progress and positive energy.

This year as I drive into Kailahun the energy feels lighter than 2012/13, but still very different from any of the other districts.  We stop in three villages to gather needed information about the Peace Mother’s Cooperatives for the “African Project”.  It is evident the men still want to be a somewhat controlling influence in the Peace Mother’s activities.

I attend a Stakeholders Meeting of the Councilors (elected officials), Paramount Chiefs (inherited position, but can result in election if there is controversy) and Peace Mother representatives; the first meeting of its kind.  The purpose of the meeting is to define the roles and responsibilities, method of inclusion and interaction of each entity to provide solutions for enforcing the laws of women’s rights according to the 2007 Gender Acts.  It is hoped the way forward will be evident and decided at the end of the day.

After a general discussion and agreement of women’s issues needing attention, the attendees are broken into groups of Councillors, Paramount Chiefs and Peace Mothers to define their roles and responsibilities, list challenges, and impart their recommendations to resolve the challenges.

Since Fambul Tok emphasized the creation of a safe space, the individual groups are quite outspoken about what they felt lacking from the other groups.  The Peace Mothers are especially honest in their criticism of the other two groups’ performance concerning support of women’s rights and their ability to obtain the help needed in enforcing the laws.

The criticisms (needs) of the Peace Mothers causes a lively debate between the Councillors and Paramount Chiefs.  It becomes so lively that the meeting dissolves into pointing fingers and a much heated debate.  The situation is diffused when I got the Peace Mothers to join me in dance and song, but the meeting ends because it is evident there will be no way forward solutions today.

The next day the FT HQ staff and District Staff attended a Chiefdom Dialog to sensitize them regarding the Gender Laws.  There were more men attending this year compared to 2012.  However, it was quite evident the women still felt very marginalized and controlled by the men and subjected to the old traditions.  It was not long ago that the practice of contracting with the family for a marriage while the child was still in the womb still existed!  If the child was not a girl, then it was invalid.  If a girl, she was promised and then supported by the future husband from that time.  The marriage could take place when the girl was as young as 10.

It is my sense that Kailahun was a “hot spot” even before the war and has a past of violence between families.  Certainly the women and children, especially girls, have been very marginalized and still are.  It is also my sense the presence and involvement of Fambul Tok’s process of reconciliation and power of forgiveness has made a difference and will continue to do so although they have more challenges here than any of the other districts.

I was told by one of the district staff members that Kailahun is the “forgotten” district.  Nobody comes here just to visit; there is always a purpose.  Many people in Salone will visit other districts, but die never having been to Kailahun.  

It may seem like there is no hope for improvement and development, but that is not true.  I feel the change from last journey to this and with Fambul Tok’s continued involvement I am confident the improvement and development will continue albeit more slowly here.