Summoning the Human Spirit to its Best Self

Reinventing the Future of Sierra Leone

In a village, a 20 minutes drive off the main dirt road at the end of a single deeply rutted dirt path lies the village of Mabeseneh in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Few vehicles ever reach this destination as there is no reason to come this far off the beaten path. There are 15 mud huts in various state of repair grouped together in a clearing, with numerous family members residing in each one. There is no school, health facility, electricity, running water, or sewage and sanitation system in the village. Children are having children and infants and their mothers are dying at astonishing rates. The village Headman and it’s Sowie’s -- woman who are leaders in the secret societies -- have promised to give up the practice of initiating girls, the act of cutting girls genitals as part of an initiation rite into the secret society. However, they have not yet been able to imagine a future that would bring them more riches, respect and festivities than those associated with this practice. Here in a place where not much changes and not much inspires it is hard to envision a new way. This is where the PeaceJoyMobile will aid in bringing the village the inspiration to address the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) put forth by the United Nations and the recommendations given by the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

LemonAid Fund will purchase and equip a mobile resource center bringing educational and health information, materials, and services to communities where the LemonAid Fund is currently working. Specifically, it will provide:

• Technology Center – By providing electricity through generator power the PeaceJoyMobile will be able to be outfitted with computers with satellite internet access. The technology center will also provide access to previously inaccessible information and entertainment, such an HIV/AIDS awareness video or a Disney movie.

• Lending Library – Many students in Sierra Leone still do not have access to a steady supply of books. The lending library will provide both students and adults with greater access to the educational resources needed to create a brighter future. Another aspect of the PeaceJoyMobile will be supporting the training of librarians at each of the networks schools to build interest in organizing libraries and motivating children to use them for better literacy outcomes. This aspect builds on the Build UP the Children project, which brought libraries to ten schools and organizations and aided in the construction of four new schools.

• Health Station – The health station will provide both access to medical supplies as well as information and guidance related to everything from proper hand washing techniques to HIV/AIDS and malaria protection. LemonAid Fund will also provide support for the training of district health staff and providing them with materials and logistics so they can implement preventative health, treatment and care on designated PeaceJoyMobile health days within each village.

• Center for Cultural Exchange – One of the biggest problems facing Sierra Leone is a lack of connectivity between the local communities. The PeaceJoyMobile would provide an outlet for cultural interchange through designating a space for the exhibition of local art and writing. Also displayed will be pieces of the TRC “National Vision Project” in order to carry the vision and message of peace to a wider audience.

• Arts and Crafts Station – Children in Sierra Leone have very few outlets for recreation; there are very few playgrounds and a shortage of even the most basic toys. The arts and crafts station will provide children with an opportunity to channel their creativity.

LemonAid Fund has begun conversations with the Ministries of Health and Education in Sierra Leone to discuss feasibility and sustainability, Eric Blantz at Inveneo (http://www.inveneo.org) regarding technology, Steve Landman from Carego International (www.caregointl.com) regarding converting a container into a PeaceJoyMobile, and Paula Kahn, a Board Member of the Chicago Children's Museum (www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org) for exhibit information. We will keep you updated as we find funding and progress with this project.

LemonAid Fund, 490 Lincoln Ave West, Highland Park, IL 60035 USA