...Poverty in Sierra Leone Cassandra Jones Professor Tiffani Davis Sociology 300 September 1, 2012 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone is located on the West Coast of Africa near Guinea, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia. Sierra Leone was founded in 1462, by a Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra sailing the West African coast. While there Pedo observed the mountains and thunderstorm that sounded like a lion’s roam in the distance. He therefore name Sierra Leone in his native language Sierra Leoa. The name was later changed in 1787 while under British rule Sierra Leone by English Jack Tars. The country is comprised over six million people of different ethnic backgrounds and religions that primarily speak English which is the official language. Many tribal languages are also used and in Freetown which is the capital of Sierra Leone, Krio is the second language spoken. It is a form of pigeon English encompassing tribal words. Sierra Leone also known as the Republic of Sierra Leone maintains a constitutional democracy which is composed of a President Ernest Bai KOROMA and legislative, judicial and executive branch. A constitutional democracy is a system of government based on popular sovereignty in which the structures, powers, and limits of government are set forth in a constitution. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/constitutional+democracy. Sierra Leon is also one of the poorest countries in the world with the shortest life expectancy. To understand why Sierra Leone is the...
Words: 1576 - Pages: 7
...Sierra Leone (Officially The Republic Of Sierra Leone) Archaeological finds show that Sierra Leone has been inhabited continuously for at least 2,500 years, populated by successive movements from other parts of Africa. The use of iron was introduced to Sierra Leone by the 9th century, and by AD 1000 agriculture was being practiced by coastal tribes. Sierra Leone's dense tropical rainforest largely protected it from the influence of any pre-colonial African empires and from further Islamic influence of the Songhai Empire. The Islamic faith however became common in the 18th century. European contacts with Sierra Leone were among the first in West Africa. In 1462, Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra mapped the hills surrounding what is now Freetown Harbour; naming shaped formation Serra de Leão (Portuguese for Lion Mountains).The Italian rendering of this geographic formation is Sierra Leone, which became the country's name. The Krio Language is national language spoken throughout the Sierra Leone. Krio is spoken by 97% of Sierra Leone's population and unites the different ethnic groups in the country, especially in their trade and social interaction with each other. Krio is the primary language of communication among Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad. The language is native to the Sierra Leone Creole people or Krios, (a community of about 300,000 descendants of freed slaves from the West Indies, United States and Britain), but it is spoken as a second...
Words: 2177 - Pages: 9
...Sierra Leone (country), independent nation in western Africa, bounded on the north and east by Guinea, on the southeast by Liberia, and on the southwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of the country is 71,740 sq km (27,699 sq mi). Freetown is the capital and largest city. Sierra Leone: Flag and Anthem © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved./© Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Expand II LAND AND RESOURCES web center Ä Find the best online information about Sierra Leone (country). Encarta Editors' Picks Sierra Leone [INCORE Internet Country Guides] Sierra Leone: Consular Information Sheet Africa Guide: Sierra Leone more... A low-lying coastal plain in Sierra Leone extends inland from the Atlantic Ocean for about 80 km (about 50 mi). The area closest to the ocean is a largely swampy region; however, the Sierra Leone Peninsula, where Freetown is situated, is dominated by hills. To the east the land rises from the coastal plain to a plateau in the north and to hilly terrain in the south. Several small mountain ranges are located near the northern and eastern borders and reach a maximum elevation of 1,945 m (6,381 ft) in Bintumani (Loma Mansa) in the Loma Mountains. Of the numerous short rivers that drain the country the most important are the Kolenté (Great Scarcies) and the Kaba (Little Scarcies), and the Rokel, Jong, Sewa, and Moa. Most are navigable only in the rainy season. A Climate facts and figures facts...
Words: 411 - Pages: 2
...Next, we’ll tell you the information about the causes and effects. Why do the child soldiers exist in the first place? It because many children are forcibly controlled and commanded by adults in armed groups. Children proceed to the battlefield without a judgment of the right and wrong. It’s easy for adults to brainwash children. And then, children send into minefield to remove mines or bombs because they don’t understand the danger of things. To be frank with you, adults consider children are convenient to use. And then, we have two suggestions to resolve the problem. First, we send a financial support to child soldiers. Actually, there is no child soldier in China because China is a developed country, which means China has enough money to resolve the problem. Although there are a lot of reasons to have child soldiers, the major reason is not having enough money in poor countries. If there is even money, child soldiers will be fewer and fewer. So we should send a financial support. Second, we send a supporting group to poor countries. Many children join armed groups because they are displaced from their homes, in other words, they don’t live their family and don’t have money and foods. That’s why children forced to join armed groups. Therefore, we should build a facility like a school, and give them foods so that children will live safety. Children also have a fear after conflicts. Children can’t accept what they experienced. So, we also have to give them counseling ...
Words: 312 - Pages: 2
...The RUF: revolutionary ideals turned ideology of terror The RUF was created around 1982 by a small number of disenfranchised Sierra Leonean intellectuals with an ambiguous revolutionary ideology with a poorly articulated socialist agenda. The RUF’s pledge to fight against the one-party system, imposed by the All People’s Congress since independence in 1961, and for a more transparent and democratic state, initially received some popular support across ethnic and religious lines. However, until the RUF invasion, the group was relatively unknown. The increase in RUF activity was largely due to both the fight for control of Sierra Leone’s mineral resources (a dominant factor driving the RUF for most of the war), and the impact of external influences, especially the spread of the Liberian civil war into Sierra Leone. The military strength of the RUF was increased by considerable support from the NPFL, formed by Charles Taylor, one of the warring factions in the Liberian civil war, Burkinabè mercenaries, and the provision of military training to RUF fighters from Libya. Liberia, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Libya reportedly also provided the RUF with military equipment. Much of the RUF’s original ideology was lost among RUF fighters themselves, since a large proportion were in fact Liberian rebels fighting for their own cause. Moreover, any initial popular support that the group had enjoyed in the past was undermined by its...
Words: 4057 - Pages: 17
...Africa in Cinema- Final Paper Professor Rice May 2010 Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone This semester, the topic of Child Soldiers presented a very interesting dilemma that several countries in Africa continue to face today. Sierra Leone, in particular, has struck an interest because of the many films and readings that try to depict this story of the civil war. In class, we have viewed two films representing the problems with child soldiers in Sierra Leone which include films titled Blood Diamond and Ezra. Both films represent opposite sides of the spectrum, as Blood Diamond shows the Western view of child soldiers and Ezra represents the first African view of child soldiers. Before discussing the two films, there are also two articles that depict the issues of child soldiers in great detail. In the first article by A. B. Zack-Williams titled, “Child Soldiers in the Civil War in Sierra Leone,” the author describes the reasons behind children even joining rebel based armies such as the RUF, why children are chosen as soldiers against their will, and the examination of policies that are yet to be instilled on this matter. The first valid point that the author makes is the purpose of the RUF (Revolutionary United Front). The focus of this organization is to seek a better life for the people in Sierra Leone. They feel as if their lives have been wasted because of poor housing, malnutrition and no opportunity to succeed and that the government is to blame. With that said...
Words: 1488 - Pages: 6
...The Economic Devastation in Sierra Leone The Republic of Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa. This country borders Guinea from left to right and Liberia from southeast as well as the Atlantic Ocean. Formerly, the colony was control by the Sierra Leone Company in 1792, until it became a British colony in 1808. Independence came in April 1961, when Sierra Leone opted for a parliamentary system within the British Commonwealth. Sierra Leone Peoples Party led by Sir Milton's of the led helped the country gain independence and the first general election under universal adult franchise in May 1962. In present day, The total area of Sierra Leone covers 71,740 km, with an estimated population of 5.4 to 6.4 million, growing at rate of about 2.6 percent per annum. Over two-thirds of the population lives in absolute poverty. Rural life, with the exception of the diamond and gold mining areas, is generally at a subsistence level. The average Life expectancy is very low, estimated at 42 years; and infant mortality is among the highest in the world, also primary school enrollment is among the lowest in Africa. Although Sierra Leone is blessed with abundant rainfall, substantial mineral resources, some fertile soils, and extensive marine fisheries, Sierra Leone is classified as one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Sierra Leone has good relations with the West, including the United States and has maintained historical ties with the United Kingdom and other...
Words: 2541 - Pages: 11
...The term child soldier refers to the group of children in Sierra Leone who were forced to fight in Sierra Leone’s civil war. Shepler (2005) says that “murder, rape, and looting, amputations by machete were carried out by youth recruited for just such acts” (p. 197). Since the end of the civil war, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have been stepping in to reintegrate the former child soldiers into Sierra Leonean society. These NGOs work to detraumatize and help the children become part of the society again, and help the society learn to accept the former child soldiers despite the horrors that have been committed against the community. NGOs like to use a technique called “sensitization” to achieve these goals (Shepler, 2005, pp. 200-201). In implementing this technique, NGOs focused on teaching the Sierra Leonean people what child rights were and what they meant. An As an example that Shepler (2005) gives to illustrates how child rights were used and the way the NGOs sensitization techniques were implicated and used is as the community built the school (p. 201). In one village, the community as a whole used their funds to build a school for the children of that village. It was then used to educate not only the children of the village, but former child soldiers who were brought there by NGOs in order to reintegrate them into the community and to help them exercise their child rights, one of which being the right to education. The community did not like this,...
Words: 480 - Pages: 2
...to control man, while others like John Locke favored the idea of a government where the purpose was the good of mankind and officials were elected. Now many governments, democracies such as the US, have adopted Locke’s humanistic view and developed a list of human rights. However many rights are still violated, such as the right to an adequate standard of living and medical help. Sierra Leone is a prime...
Words: 1636 - Pages: 7
...Gender and Transitional Justice An Assessment of the Contribution of Transitional Justice Mechanisms in Addressing Gender-Based Violence in post-Conflict Sierra Leone Introduction Sierra Leone, a relatively small country with a population of just over 6 million people, has been the focus of considerable attention due to the recent Ebola epidemic and, prior to that, the decade-long civil war (1991-2002) (Mills, Nesbitt-Ahmed, Diggins & Mackieu, 2015, p. 4). After the war, the transition from civil war to peace witnessed a number of landmark procedural innovations with widespread implications for gender justice. The decade-long conflict had shattered the West African country, displacing more than one million people and leaving more than two hundred thousand women and girls dealing with the aftermath of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Then, in 1999, the Lomé Peace Agreement traded amnesty for peace, making provision for the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Sierra Leone to work parallel to the Special Court of Sierra Leone (otherwise called the Special Court or the SCSL) in order to prosecute those who bore “the greatest responsibility” for mass atrocities committed during the civil war. While there is a growing consensus that truth and reconciliation commissions as a transitional justice mechanism can be effective tools “in the construction of a post-conflict society that is more democratic and more respectful of human rights” (Wielbelhans-Hrahm...
Words: 6180 - Pages: 25
...Program Project Technology Resolution Business Plan Background and Introduction Technology Resolution is a Premier Information Technology Company formed by three Sierra Leoneans who studied in the United States and aim to introduce twentieth century technology to their country of birth Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is amongst the least developed countries in West Africa with a population of about 5.8 million people. They are well known for their natural resources like diamonds, titanium ore (rutile), bauxite, gold, iron ore, platinum, chromite, manganese, as well as forests, abundant fresh water and rich offshore fishing grounds. However they are still underdeveloped because they lack the technological know-how and machinery to tap into their natural resources (Sierra Leone, 2012). The telecommunication infrastructure of this country was heavily damaged during an eleven years of senseless war and the internet service is currently very slow and expensive. The lack of advanced methods and technology to maintain an efficient database system is having an adverse effect on the productivity of different companies from all over the world who have bombarded this country to tap into their mineral resources. Sierra Leone became one of the ideal locations to establish Technology Resolution because the culture, language, legal system, and business practices of its customer base is well known by its owners (Collins, 2006). In addition, Sierratel is the...
Words: 9250 - Pages: 37
...CURRICULUM VITAE Personal Details Name: Moses Bockarie Beckhio Contact Address: 41A Ascension Town, Road Freetown, Sierra Leone E-mail: mosesbeckhio@yahoo.com Cell Phone: 076-404126/033404404 Nationality: Sierra Leonean Marital Status: Married with two children Language spoken: English, Krio, Mende and Kissi Personal Profile: • Results orientated. • Leadership and influencing skills. • Attention to detail. • Handling critical issues. • Capable of making important and strategic decisions. • Problem solving. • Communication and interpersonal relations. . Skills & Attributes Supply chain management Budget management Strong negotiating skills Change management Process management Business acumen PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Competencies: • Establishing effective operating policies, lean initiatives and processes. • Comprehensive understanding & experience of purchasing strategies and also inventory management. • Regularly achieving cost saving targets. • Resourceful and well organized. • Extensive knowledge of purchase order systems and related software. • Deep understanding of the principles of vendor management. • Ability to manage multiple priorities. • Excellent analytical, critical thinking and strategic skills. Education/Qualifications ...
Words: 1125 - Pages: 5
...I am 21 years old and applying to study Politics and Economics. Neither subject was an option for me to do as a GCSE subject in my school. However from an early age as a child growing up in Sierra Leone, a country that was recovering from 10years of civil war, I have always had a keen interest in politics and the economy we live in. I used to love watching the news channel and also listening to adult talk about politics and the state of the economy. My interest in politics and economics made it impossible for me to choose between the two degrees so I am very grateful to have the chance to study both. My enthusiasm for politics and economy reach a new level in 2014. At this time Sierra Leone my birthplace and its neighbour Guinea and Liberia were suffering from the outbreak of Ebola. These three countries have economy which in my opinion is badly run by its government and corruption is also a big issue.. I was sad by the facts that I could not do anything to help. This led me to make the decision that I had to gain more knowledge in politics and economics. I believe politics and economics are two subjects that closely linked and understanding both is the only way to understand how our society functions. This is because it gives you better understanding of the key roles government play in the economy and what effect their policy will have on the economy. Since deciding to study Politics and Economics, in October 2014 I applied to study AS level Economics through the Open University...
Words: 520 - Pages: 3
...Analyze the economic situation of the movie: The movie “Blood Diamond” is directed by Edward Zwick. This movie is considered as one of the great movies because the diamonds mined at Africa are traded in exchange for firearms and other weapons which are used in civil wars, coups and cruel military dictatorships, and what makes the story interesting is that, which side is worse? Is it the government or the rebels? So the first thing we see in this story if we will relate it to economic situation is that, people face tradeoffs. RUFs mine diamonds and sell to those people who will give them firearms in exchange for diamonds. Back to the story, this story takes place in 1999 in Sierra Leone, which during that time, is at civil war. The story stars Leonardo DiCapprio, played the role as Danny Archer, who is a diamond smuggler who needs money to leave Africa for good. There, he meets Solomon Vandy. His life changed when the Revolutionary United Front or RUF invaded their village, killed many people, and kidnapped most children and men. His family escaped, and he is sent to the forced labor camp to mine diamond. During that time, diamonds have really high value because they are traded for arms and is sold for a very high price. When Solomon is sifting sand on a river bank, he saw a 100 karat pink diamond which he initially hides then later buries. No less than a minute, it happened that there was government raid, he captured and he was sent in jail. There he meets Danny, who...
Words: 2192 - Pages: 9
...seen by me, this is an American political war thriller film produced and directed by Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou. The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds mined in African war zones and sold to finance conflicts, and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies across the world. During Sierra Leone Civil War in 1996–2001, the film shows a country torn apart by the struggle between government soldiers and rebels. It also portrays many of the atrocities of that war, including the rebels' amputation of people's hands to discourage them from voting in upcoming elections. The film's ending, in which a conference is held concerning blood diamonds, is in reference to an actual meeting that took place in Kimberley, South Africa in 2000 and led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which seeks to certify the origin of rough diamonds in order to curb the trade in conflict diamonds. In the face of the evidence, it is impossible to list any benefits for blood diamonds. They have been condemned by the United Nations. The sheer scale of the civil war in Sierra Leone they helped to fund, in which an estimated 120,000 people were killed from 1991 to 2001,...
Words: 749 - Pages: 3
