TRAINING OF OC AND RC BOMBALI

FEBRUARY 2014

Sandatendaran Chiefdom/Mateboi Section/Mateboi Village

Time is moving swiftly by and suddenly I realized I had not witnessed the next step in the process leading up to the bonfire; the training of the Reconciliation and Outreach Committees.  Most of the training in the 6 districts was past.  Since I felt this was a key ingredient in the process, I addressed my concerns to Micheala and Onita who both advised me to dialog with John.

On Friday I sent him an email stating my needs and asking his advice.  Once I sent the email, I was without internet connection until Monday.  On Monday after arriving at the office and settling in at my desk, I looked up to find Cerci, John’s driver, at the door.  He informed he was there, at John’s instructions, to take me up country to Bombali where a training session was taking place the next day.

Wow!  John truly is a great leader.  He takes my needs to heart sacrificing his comfort to accomplish my goals.  John was taking his own car and driving himself up country to a meeting, so Cerci could take me to mine.  I was so excited. Now I would not miss this important piece of the process.  I am so grateful to John for his quick action.  

Cerci and I set out at 2PM for the drive to Bombali

Busy Freetown Street

District and their district town of Makeni.  My usual hotel, the only one with internet, was booked :-(.  Cerci took me to a brand new hotel just out of town called Mokambo Village Resort.  Luckily, they had space.  They will have internet soon they tell me.

The hotel is great!  And less expensive than the older one.  Rooms are bigger, A/C is under my control as is the hot water heater, and there is a small refrigerator where I can store my tomato juice.  Since the restaurant is not yet open, Cerci takes me back in to town to St. Mary’s Supermarket where I buy items to have for dinner.

Each day a woman from town arrives to make breakfast for the guests.  The breakfast is delicious consisting of eggs, sausage, coffee or tea, and bread.  It is included in the price of the room.  My room is 175,000 SLL or $39.77 per night where the other one where I usually stay is 200,000SLL ($45.45) per night.  I will stay here next time even though there is no internet or restaurant is yet to become operational.

The next morning Cerci picks me up ( in Krio it is “Ah come pick you tomah) at 7:45AM and we are off to find the village about 1  1/2 hours away.  The roads to this village are in great shape most of the way which minimizes the bouncing and jerking I have experienced in other places.  Cerci isn’t exactly sure where the village is, but he has the name and the general direction to leave Makeni. 

After asking directions at strategic points, we arrive in more than enough time before the start of the session. It is my habit to nickname people when I get the inspiration to do so.  Last year I named our driver Mustapha, Miracle Mustapha because of his ability to make it through mud that appeared impassable.  Micheala became Mystical Micheala because of her uncanny ability to bring about cooperation.  Desmond became Daring Desmond after he drove through a river in the pick up truck to get to a village, Cerci is now Clever Cerci since he was able to get us to our destination so easily.

Fambul Tok lets the people dictate times for the meeting and, when people are late (which is a regular occurrence), also the amount of time we wait for late arrivals.  There was a last minute burial to take care of making the 9AM meeting begin at 11:30!

The first step is to make sure the correct people are in attendance.  These committees are the key to the success of the bonfire participation.  According to Joseph, FT Team Leader for this district, most people

Waiting For Meeting

have two names!  One is their birth name and the other is the one they are known by in the village.  They are interchangeable, but can lead the staff into thinking they are two different people!

Some are in attendance who are not on the list.  They are allowed to stay as back up participants in case a regular member moves or for some other reason cannot perform their duties.

The purpose of this meeting is to sensitize and train the members of the two committees on how to:

Perform Active Listening

Know the different types of trauma and what cause them 

Recognize symptoms of trauma vs stress

Council and sympathize with those in trauma
Encourage confessing and accusing leading to forgiveness

Mediation and intervention skills (especially the Reconciliation Committee members)

Recognize and believe in the necessity of forgiveness

Move the community towards unity through reconciliation

Sensitize the communities to effect total participation

Fambul Tok's process brings about a healing of the communities through confessions and accusations.  The justice achieved is a restorative justice that stays within the safe space of the community.

After prayers and introductions, Joseph moves the attendees around mixing up men and women so they are sitting in a mixed group instead of most of the men together and most of the women together.  Next he asks

Poster

groups of 4 to take a close look at the Fambul Tok poster.  Then he requests a man to volunteer his interpretation of the poster and after that a woman.

The man named Sy says he sees many different kinds of people seeming to be in conversation or reflection probably about the war and how it has effected all people.  There are old, young, babies, amputees, men and women under a bending tree.  He sees the tree representing an old African proverb that states: “The family tree may bend but it never breaks”.  This means restorative justice instead of punitive justice.

Marie explains at the start of the war when they first heard about the rebels and their acts, they wondered if

Marie Explaining Poster

they were even human.  Then they found out they were not only human but were their brothers and sisters (here in Africa all people in the same village call each other brothers and sisters).  She sees the tree in the poster signifying people getting together promoting peace.

For the benefit of people who did not attend the Stakeholders Meeting Adama, another member of the district staff, speaks about the core values of Fambul

Adama Explaining Core Values

Tok.

The group is asked why the war in Sierra Leone?  Many reasons are listed among them: corrupt government, lack of love for fellow man, tribalism/family fights, selfishness and bad sayings leading to bad things.  They state it is important to be careful of what they say to the children so war will not come again.

How can war be avoided?  They list such things as: establish love, unity in church, mosque, home, community, respect for elders, authority, country, teach children respect, banish tribal justice methods of revenge, work out differences in peaceful ways, and setting a good example for the children to teach them peaceful ways.

The TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Committee) and how John Caulker’s involvement and disillusionment lead him to form Fambul Tok is told.  He saw the need for the right of dignity and truth at the village level where communities were struggling to come back together after the war.  They had no place to be heard and needed a safe space to confess and accuse resulting in forgiveness and reconciliation.

The attendees placed themselves into the two groups: Reconciliation and Outreach.  Adama then explained the differences between Fambul Tok and other NGO’s (None Government Organization).  FT does not make promises, give money or other items, tell the villagers

Difference Between FT & Others

what they need or what to do.  FT DOES walk side by side with the villagers in their quest to unity, peace and forgiveness which leads to increased productivity.  They offer support in ways non-financial.  FT ‘s process uses the local customs and engages the villagers to run the activities while FT staff supports them by being there with them.

Roles and responsibilities for each group are discussed.  Before the bonfire the Outreach Committee members with support from the Fambul Tok district staff go to each village and sensitize ALL of the villagers about the process and the purpose of the bonfire.

At and after the bonfire the Reconciliation Committee members use the mediation, listening, trauma identification and intervention skills taught in this session.

It is emphasized the bonfire is really the beginning of the unity of the villagers and is the foundation of ongoing forgiveness and reconciliation.  The committees will always be needed to sensitize, mediate and reconcile issues that arise after the bonfire night.  Everyone in the villages will contribute something to the bonfire such as wood, food, labor, etc.  Fambul Tok will contribute also as they “walk side by side” with the participants.

Joseph then asks each committee to state their understanding of their roles and responsibilities.  Next he asks what they believe is trauma.  After some discussion, the different types of trauma and the causes are agreed upon.

How do you assist someone in trauma?  Answers range from prayers and faith to pretend it didn’t happen and

Joseph Leading To Realization

work hard to forget.  Joseph gently leads them to the realization that unity, caring, compassion, creating a safe space, allowing them a voice, listening, and encouraging  the use of the power of forgiveness are the ways to assist trauma.

For the RC’s the question is asked: What is the process of mediation?  A good mediator maintains respect in the community, takes time for themselves to be in a peaceful, listening and caring space.  Fambul Tok mediation is about restorative justice.  It’s about listening to both sides without judgement or advice.  It’s about asking questions geared to get to the root of the issue.

The Reconciliation Committee Member makes an appointment to see both of the people and to listen to each again as they tell their story.  At the end of the stories questions are asked of each person that lead them to reconciliation.  The sign of a successful mediator is when the issue is resolved within the village eliminating the need to involve the Paramount Chief or the police.

Role play is used to show examples of:

good and bad listening skills 

staying humble 

showing compassion

getting to the root of the issue

One man and one woman took part in creating a scenario of a good listener and then a bad listener.  The good news is the man chosen for the bad listener couldn’t quite get bad enough, so Joseph took his place demonstrating bad listening.  Joseph was VERY good at being a bad listener!!!

The Rumor Game is played to show how the message whispered in the ear passing from one to another without intense listening changes along the line.  People are amazed at the difference of the message at the end VS the beginning.

Both of the committees are divided into four groups: peace, truth, mercy and justice.  Adama tells the “Lion Story”:

The lion, King of the jungle, decreed one day that on the following consecutive mornings each of the other animal species will give one of their children to him to eat for breakfast.  This activity goes on for several days until the rabbit is next.  When the lion demands a baby bunny the rabbit says they are all down by the lake.  The lion approaches the lake and sees the baby bunny across the water.  When the lion looks into the water at his own reflection he thinks it is another lion about to take his breakfast.  He pounces on his competition and falls into the water.  Immediately he begins to struggle calling out for the other animals to save him as he cannot swim.

At this point in the story Adama turns to each group in turn asking how they will respond.  “Truth” and “Peace” weren’t quite sure how to respond.  “Mercy” pulls him

the lion out but “Justice” throws him back!!!  Then the question is posed: Would you kill one of your “family” or would you forgive them?  They all agree without pause they would forgive.

It is wonderful to watch the faces as they realize the lesson  of the Lion Story and the role they will play in the peace and reconciliation of the people in the villages of their section.  They are all eager and ready for the next steps.  They choose the dates of April 5 and 6 for their bonfire.  I plan on attending.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara