oneworldlink.org.uk

The friendship link between Bo District in Sierra Leone and Warwick District, UK

Newsletter January 2019

Registered Charity No. 700714

There’s so much going on …

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clinic. This was positive and furtherexploration of how such a link candevelop.Waste ProjectThe success of the waste managementproject in Bo has led to its expansion tothe towns of Kenema and Makeni.Technical specialists visited Bo in Mayproviding training and advice to theproject. There is potential for extendingthe project further and another technicalsupport visit is in the offing.Linked schools in Bo will be introduced towaste project activities.Local GovernmentThe Prince's Foundation project on urbanmanagement is being developed furtherfollowing the workshop sessions in Bo theprevious year. We continue to developour links with local government in Bo Cityand Bo District and shall be representedat an important workshop early in 2019.

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Here is a summary of some of ouractivities during 2018 and plans for 2019EducationWe maintain close school ties betweenfifteen Warwick/Leamington Schools andPartner schools in Bo.The present emphasis is on theenvironment and what we can do.Four teachers visited Bo in February2018, visiting all partnership schools,developing good practice and exchangingprojects.A return visit from Bo had beenprogrammed for June, but unfortunatelyhad to be cancelled as a result of visaapplication problems.Day of the African Child celebrationswere held in June, very successfully, withattendance from almost 500 localchildren.

UK teachers go to Bo in February 2019and a return visit is planned during the

summer. These visits are funded by theBritish Council.Teachers in Bo and UK have a vigorousWhatsApp group keeping them in touchdaily.The next Day of the African Child will beon Thursday, 13th June.

HealthThe potential for a health link continuesto grow. A visit was undertaken inNovember/December to investigate thepotential for developing a health supportlink, focusing on the Yemoh Town health

Glenn Fleet and Derek Greedy have been visiting Bo regularlyover the past ten years, advising the council on wastemanagement. Following the civil war thedisposal system had stopped completely andrubbish was becoming a major problem andhealth hazard. From early beginnings whereOne World Link facilitated funding by UNDPand later the British aid programme, theproject has now extended to two further cities,Makeni and Kenema, working with a GermanNGO.Their visit in May 2018 was a technical missionto provide training and capacity building tofield technicians and managers of the threecities. The seven days of training covered everything from waste

The Waste Project expands againcollection to disposal and the management of controlled wastesites and Glenn and Derek provided manuals for site

management. A major component was trainingin organic waste shredding and composting,enabling green waste to be recycled back tothe land. For this to succeed, local councils willneed to ensure that householders sort theirwaste carefully; councils in the UK face thesame concern.Following the success of the project, first inBo, then in Makeni and Kenema, it is to berolled out nationwide. It is amazing to see howthe limited project of ten years ago hasblossomed into a national programme.

… that we have summarised current One World Link on this page, with full articles on the following pages. To findout more and hear first-hand accounts, please come to our AGM at 2pm on Tuesday, 2nd March, at the DaleStreet Centre, Leamington

Schools formalise their link

Feeding green waste into a shredder

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Chairman’s Notebook

There has certainly been muchgoing on within our link as youwill see from the articles in thisnewsletter.And the reason for this? Twomain factors - the continuedcommitment of people hereand in Bo and the network of long-standingrelationships between our two communities. These haveenabled us to build partnerships that enable sharing andlearning each way. Its the personal touch that makesthings work.Of course, we aim to pass on skills and experiencewhere these can help our partners meet theiraspirations for development. But retaining personalcontacts and equality in relationships is the key tomaintaining our close involvement over the long term.All relationships evolve over time. OWL has seenactivities move between various areas as individualscome forward and issues change. As well asmaintaining progress in education and local governmentlinks, we are now also exploring the development of ahealth link.This is particularly exciting as the sharing of friendshipsand expertise in health can provide benefit in a key areafor the future of the Bo Community.I have every confidence that with the people and therelationships that we have in place, OWL will keep us allclosely and happily linked for many years to come.

Six years as Chairman of OWL UKJohn Archer reflects on a period when the link has withstoodthe Ebola crisis and come out as strong as ever.Just over six years ago I took on the roleof Chair of OWL. It has been afascinating time, during which I havelearned so much about a remarkablecommunity.

To be involved with people who managelife in such positive and direct way hasbeen an amazing experience. In acountry where infrastructure of any sortis in limited supply, there is no shortageof friendliness, human support andsheer pleasure in human contact.

It has been a great privilege to havebeen Chair during a time when we haveseen significant advances in ourrelationship. School links haveexpanded, the waste project has seenmajor benefits and local governmentcontacts have developed further. Manyvisits have taken place both to and fromBo and we have continued to maintainour public presence here inLeamington/Warwick through social andpublic events.

Of course, there have been difficulttimes, none more so than during theEbola crisis a few years ago. During thatdreadful time it was more importantthan ever to keep close contact and OWL

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also helped coordinate responses fromother groups here in the UK to do whatlittle we could to help the situation.

I was a member of the first visit to Bojust after Ebola and whilst there hadbeen great sadness, I could see howthe community was already lookingahead to better things withdetermination.

Whilst I have enjoyed my role, I feelthat it is right to step down at thispoint to allow someone else to moveinto the role. A healthy organisationwill draw benefits from seeing achange to individuals in key roles,allowing fresh ideas and newapproaches to develop. I am sure thiswill be the case with a new Chair forOWL.

I shall still be closely involved and amhappy to continue to serve on theCommittee and take part in the manyexciting areas we are developing.

And to all those in OWL who havegiven me support, both here and in Bo- it has been a brilliant time - thank youall so much.

John

Another group of four teachers will visit Bo during February.They can expect a busy programme of teaching, training,visits and social events - just like the group who went lastyear.The theme this time is the environment and the things thatindividuals can do to protect and improve it. Schools inLeamington and Warwick are already taking practical steps bymaking Ecobricks. These are plastic bottles rammed full ofplastic that cannot be recycled, then used as decorative fillersin masonry.Meanwhile, in Bo, they will learn about the Waste Project.The manager wrote: “As part of the project scope, schoolbased waste management/sanitation is central to our work inthe three cities and therefore a timely decision for OWL togive it a focus as this will augment our joint support thesector.ʺThis teachers’ visit, and the return visit planned for thesummer, are supported by the British Councils’s ConnectingClassrooms scheme.

Hear more at our AGM in Leamington on 13th March

UK teachers going to Bo John Myers - 80 for 80

Other news in brief

John Myers has been an activemember of One World Link formany years. He moved to EastSussex 5 years ago but has stayedon as a long distance supportermaking occasional visits to OWLevents in Leamington and stayingin touch with old friends in Bo.On achieving his 80th birthday hedecided to mark his 80 years with afund raising 80 kilometres walkacross East Sussex from Lewes toRye over 5 days. He chose tosupport One World Link so that allthe people who know him in thatconnection would have anopportunity to help him raise fundsfor OWL. He set out on 30th Juneand arrived in Rye on 4th July andis very grateful to all those whoshowed their support. John’smagnificent effort raised more than£350 for One World Link.

John on his way

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In 2017 on what must have been aboutmy 20th visit to Sierra Leone since 1981,I announced that I would not bereturning as I am getting too old.So, imagine their surprise when I turnedup in Bo again in October 2018!However, I had to go back to say good-bye to to Bishop Koroma whose healthhad deteriorated so badly in 2018, andhe had ended up blind and very fragile.I am sorry to say that he died 6 weeksafter I left. I have lost three of myclosest Sierra Leonean friends whom Ifirst met in 1982, and who guided methrough the years of establishing ourOne World Link partnership. Had theylived in this country, I am sure theywould have lived much longer.Going back 37 years after my first visit toBo brought back many memories. Armedwith a few contact namesgiven to me in England fromOXFAM and others, I spent2 weeks asking variousindividuals if they would beinterested in a friendshiplink between the people ofBo District and WarwickDistrict? Would such a link(based on equality) bepossible or desirable? It took 2 morevisits in 1982 and 1983 to be confidentthat the answer was yes.In the early days there was muchstopping and starting as people lostinterest and communications werelimited to snail mail and hand deliveredletters via the early visitors, and theprogress was small but it was there.At least the first exchange visits betweenBo and Leamington helped to rechargeeveryone's batteries and the link startedto grow.Even today, the expectations especiallyin Bo were and are wide ranging. Doubtsabout changing the relationship betweenpeople in such different worlds, longinfluenced by donor recipient attitudeswrought by colonialism and charitiesover the years are slowly being eroded…White people are now being taken on asreal friends with trust and love shared bymany across the divide. We now haverich and inspiring partnerships between

teachers, medical staff, and localgovernment officers and members. Fromhesitant one to one school links, we haveteacher training programmes acrossmany of the primary schools in bothDistricts, and health worker and localgovernment planning and wasteschemes. The latter is reaching outcountry wide. And then there are thepersonal engagements and sheer lovebetween all the OWL members.On a practical level, there have beensome dramatic changes, and in otherways nothing has changed. Mostdramatic has been the development ofmobile phones (by-passing anysignificant development of land lines).On my first visit to Bo, I had to queue atthe post office and wait for thetelephone operator to connect all thecables and plugs until 'Hey Presto'! I

heard my husband's voicecrackling down the line fromEngland. Now, not only doeseveryone (even in thevillages) have a phone, butthey can call for free andsend pictures of everythingthat is happening, on WhatsApp.

On my first visit the pound was worth 2Leones. On this last visit, it wasLe10,000.The challenges of keeping OWL alivedespite disappointments and frustrationsremain, but our link survived the civilwar and Ebola. There is further optimismnow because of the political change lastyear from the Northern dominated APCgovernment to a new President (MaadaBio) from the Southern region (SLPP)party. He has brought optimism that thecountry will at last, go forward.When I first arrived, the country wasbeing stripped of all its wealth by thedictator, Siaka Stevens. During this lastvisit, Bo OWL arranged for me to meetthe President (the last one I met wasPresident Tejan Kabbah just after thecivil war). This was a dramatic end to theexperience of arriving in Sierra Leone,knowing no-one, and now leaving with ahandshake from the President!

Bishop Patrick Koroma

Jane with President Maada Bio, 2018

Early days - Fathers Fabian and Koroma andJane Knight

“On my first visit toBo, I had to queue atthe post office andwait for the tele-phone operator toconnect all thecables and plugs”

The One World Link Centre underconstruction in Mattru Road, 2004

My last visit to BoJane Knight looks back on more than 35 years since she initiated the linkwith Bo.

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The Day of the African Child, 2018

Day of the African Child 2018 Fivehundred children, from 15 schools inLeamington and Warwick, met for a dayof celebration and learning, the “Day ofthe African Child” on 15th June. Theygathered in a large marquee andlistened to a poem “I am an AfricanChild” and heard about the day in 1976when school children were killed duringprotests in South AfricaEach of of theparticipating schools hasa partner school in Bo(Sierra Leone) thourhgOne World Link (OWL)which has beenpromoting friendship &mutual learning betweenBo District and WarwickDistrict for 37 years. Theschool links aremaintained throughactivities such as annualteacher exchanges, children sharingwork & projects, pen friendships, schoolclubs, teacher & children’s friendships &teacher training delivered in SierraLeone.The Day of the African Child celebrationsaw children enjoying a series ofcontrasting workshops. In two roomsthere was quiet as they listened to WestAfrican stories told by Sierra Leoneanguests. They made plenty of noise in thedrumming workshops as they learnt toplay rhythms on djembes.In two other classrooms there wasdrama as they acted out a cliff-hangerstory about a boy stuck in a treesurrounded by crocodiles, a snake and alion; how could he escape? Nearby therewas vigorous dancing and in a marqueethere was equally enthusiastic singing.

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On the field children were enjoyingfootball (the favourite sport in SierraLeone) and an obstacle race.There were formal proceedings too.Pupils from each school presented‘Send My Friend’ children’s rightsposters to our MP, Matt Western,calling for schools to be made safehavens for children all over the world.Finally all 500 children joined in thesongs they had learnt earlier in the day– what a loud and happy sound toround off the day!Liz Garrett (OWL Schools’ Co-ordinator) said, “It is unique &incredibly special to have so manyLeamington & Warwick primaryschools linked with schools in SierraLeone. Strong bonds & friendshipshave grown between school

communities & it is a joyto see children &teachers from the UK &Africa learn from eachother & work togethermutually.” Matt Bown, Headteacherof the host school, StPauls, commented: “St.Pauls children and staffhad a very memorableday. It was a delight toinvite so many children,

staff and parents from local schools tojoin us in this celebration. We wereblessed with lovely weather and lovelypeople, the perfect combination tofocus our thoughts on the ‘Day of theAfrican Child’ and what it reallymeans.”One World Link is very grateful for thesupport for this event received fromWarwick District Council ArtsDevelopment Strategic Project funds.

“

”

We are now planning for the Day of theAfrican Child on 13th June 2019. Thiswill be the tenth anniversary year forthe celebration. Once again we shallbring some 500 children together. Inaddition to singing and dancing, theprogramme includes teachers from Botelling traditional stories.

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Teachers visit to Bo 2018Five teachers from Leamington and Warwick visited Bo in January 2018

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What do teachers do when they visit Bo?

Monday Arrive in Bo (and wait for lost luggage to arrive)Meet head teachers in linked schools and plan the week’s programmeWelcome meal from Bo teachers

Tuesday Tim B, Siân and Claire visit their linked schools. Paul and Tim H visit three other schools eachVisit Children’s HospitalMeet Maada Fobay, Chairman of Bo OWL

Wednesday Tim B, Siân and Claire work with their linked schools.The others meet senior inspectors of schoolsPaul visit four secondary schools to investigate possible linksAll visit the Bomeh Park project - the site of the former central garbage dump

Thursday Tim B, Siân and Claire work with their linked schools.Tim H visits three other linked schoolsSkype call to schools in the UK from BDEC Messima and New Jerihun RoadAfternoon football tournament

Friday Training session for Bo teachers led by visiting teachers: Maths, Phonics, Health educationPaul visits Bishop Koroma and Panguma Mission Hospital in Kenema, others visit orphanage

Saturday Free day - visit the market

Sunday Pancake races!Farewell dinner at the OWL Centre

Monday Paul, Tim and John Sandi interview prospective candidates for the return visit of Bo teachers to UKAll leave Bo

Is it all work, no play? Or all play and no work? Here is the itinerary for the group who visited in 2018

Siân Atkins, Claire Wright, Tim Bladon andTim Hussey, all teachers in the Leamingtonand Warwick area, visited Bo together withPaul Atkins, ourSecondaryEducationCoordinator. ForSiân, Claire andTim Bladon thiswas their first visitto Bo and offacing classes 60pupils or more,without anymodern materialsor technology. Itgave them a new perspective on teachingand a real understanding of the difficultiesfacing their counterpart teachers in Bo.They ran workshops at the OWL Centre fortheir brother and sister teachers in Bocovering modern teaching techniques thatcould be taught using local materials.As always this was a period of hard work(see the week’s programme below) mixedwith the pleasure of meeting new

colleagues, who made them verywelcome, and the excitement ofexperiencing a new environment.

Paul Atkins and TimHussey visited all theremaining partner schoolsto see how the link wasprogressing and tohighlight any issues.Tim introduced thepeople of Bo to thestrangesport ofmaking,eating and

racing pancakes. A realcross-cultural event thatintroduced a hilariouscompetitive element.Paul visited to theSecondary schools thatcurrently have a connectionwith One World Link to seehow they felt theirrelationship wasprogressing. It appears, at

this stage, that there is a more positiveresponse from the Bo end than here inthe UK. It is now for discussion how bestto develop a programme that is mutuallybeneficial.Paul went to Kenema to visit BishopKoroma, as his health had beendeteriorating recently, in order to sendregards from all who know him in theUK. Whilst there, Paul also visited themissionary hospital in Panguma.

All finished therewarding visit with ashort period of rest andrecuperation at Burehbeach before leavingSierra Leone. Theyagreed that it had beenan enjoyable andinstructive experienceand their lives changedfor the better. Theymade many friends andwould welcome achance to go again.

The UK teachers and some of their hosts in Bo

Maths workshop led by Tim Hussey

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In October 2018 Helena and Sarah made a shortvisit to Yemoh Town Community Health Centrein Bo with a view to developing a supportingfriendship, continuing the ethos of One WorldLink.Yemoh Town Community Health Centre was builtto support the people of Yemoh Town and thesurrounding areas - approximately 18,000 peopleand has recently been extended to offer a morecomprehensive maternityservice with new rooms fordelivery and post natalcare. There is alsopotential for a laboratory,enabling quickerdiagnostics without needfor patient transfer.Lansana Deen is the seniorCommunity Health Officer(CHO), a very friendly anddedicated man whoprovides good leadershipand is very keen tonurture our friendship intoa supportive and reciprocal relationship.Yemoh Town Health Centre is the highest levelPeripheral Health Unit in the Kakua Chiefdom,with a number of Community Health Posts (CHP)referring to it, and for which Mr Deen isresponsibleThere are 3 CHOs and 2 Maternal and ChildHealth Aides who provide ante-natal, labour andpost-natal care - there are no midwives at thehealth centre. The majority of the staff arevolunteers.Ante-natal consultations are being encouraged inorder to detect problems earlier and are around:120-180/month – women are seen any day ofthe week so care is not missed for want of being

A new health link?Helena White and Sarah Galloon* went to Bo to look at the prospects for a health link - a new venture

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free on a given day. There are 12-20 births permonth; 18 due this monthThe extension of free health care to morecategories of the population means less incomefor the health unit; such income is used to fillgaps in medication and supplies (eg sutures forperineal repair) from Ministry of Health andSanitation. This gap is filled in part by patients oreven staff paying out of their own pocket.

There are also children's clinicsheld at the centre that aremainly for vaccinations but allsick children brought to thecentre will be seen andreferred on appropriately.Looking into the future inregards to our Link I feel verypositive. The team of staff atthis unit are very engaging andvery keen to learn as much asthey can to improve servicesoffered. The building itself isready to be utilised as a centre

able to serve a growing community with plentyof scope to sustain further children's clinics andinpatients when required. It has also beenearmarked to become a centre for BasicEmergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care whichmeans further input from the Government. Thisis great news as it currently has no runningwater or electricity which is essential for anyhealth facility. I believe that if we Link withYemoh Town Health Centre and work with thegreat health team there we can make a tangibleimprovement to the health care offered to thepeople of the area.

Bo is currently a city of approximately180,000 people, but is expected to grow tonearly 600,000 by 2040. Over the lastcouple of years, OWL has been workingwith the Prince’s Foundation to help BoCity Council think about the implications ofthis grow and to try to develop a plan forthe city.

Following a very successful workshop weran with the Prince’s Foundation in 2017,the city council is keen to carry this workforward so we are going out to Bo at theend of January to do a follow-up session.This will be an intensive three-day

More Planning support for BoPhil Clarke and Mair Evans are heading back to Bo

workshop with councillors, council staff andother stakeholders in the city. While weare in Sierra Leone we will also be visitingother projects in Bo and meeting with DfIDin Freetown.

By happy coincidence our visit will overlapwith the teachers’ visit, so we hope to beoffering them some support also.

They will also be following up on ourfledgling health link and, whilst inFreetown, will be maintaining our contactswith DfID and other agencies.

Visitors and the staff at Yemoh TownCommunity Health Centre