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PARTNERSHIP CONSULTATION ON SIERRA LEONE WUPPERTAL, GERMANY December 14-16, 1999 Tuesday, December 14 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS Chairperson: Bishop Dr. W. Klaiber, assisted by Paul Dirdak Secretary: Joseph Wagner
OPENING REMARKS BY BISHOP KLAIBER, CHAIRPERSON (paraphrased) We are called together for a task that is great and challenging. We want to see how we can work together, and to listen to the people of Sierra Leone talk about the needs of their people. We are here with mission and relief interests. Both are very important. It is crucial that those who are concerned about the rehabilitation of Sierra Leone coordinate their efforts. Basic perspectives:
EXPECTATIONS OF THE CONSULTATION: Bishop Joseph Humper, Resident Bishop of Sierra Leone: Action for common living is what the Methodists, in collaboration with other religious bodies and donor agencies, do to restore hope, justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation to a nation that has experienced 8 1/2 years of civil conflict. Angie Myles: That all donors can make a real marked improvement in the health in Sierra Leone. Paul Dirdak: That, though we are separate and distinct, we can work together more effectively. Walter Volz : That we are able to define new projects and find ways and means to fund them. Ingrid Holmgren: My concern is the work with children and youth. They need to be able to go back to school and get their education. Lowell Gess: That we can improve the medical facilities and equipment, so as to provide more effective health care. Fred Munce : That we can coordinate with and assist the NGO's. Michael Moss: To do everything we can to help the people of Sierra Leone. Joe Skasko : I am hoping the Presbyterian Church USA will become more involved. Zebediah Marewangepo: Having come together for the first time to discuss the urgencies of the church to have a common understanding of working together in Sierra Leone, I hope we can find solutions whereby we can be of some help to Sierra Leone, so they will not continue the atrocities. This would also mean our influencing our governments. Maxine West: That we will be able to pool human and financial resources and come up with a solution to the problems. Krischan Johannsen: Our major task is recruiting professional staff. We have learned from other countries what they are doing after their civil wars; this may be helpful. We hope to find how best we can use the small resources of personnel in Sierra Leone. Roy Crowder: To establish a procedure for a management process. Ute Caspers: That we can see beyond the obvious, and really listen to the experience of the people. Martin Watson: Show me a way I can use my funds to match with others and try to get the UMC and MC working together! Bob Sam-Kpakra: To get a clear vision of a way to work with the partners to rebuild Sierra Leone. Van Jollie: To see how the UMC can pool resources and direct its abilities to Sierra Leone, and find out how I can tell this to my church so they will share their resources. Eleanor Navor: To retrain primary and secondary teachers. We should be able to map out strategies for the women and children of the country. Mary Ann Mardh: That we find out the best way to work with the children, and coordinate our efforts. Ulf Rickardsson: I am here to listen and make contacts. I would like to see us have this be the first step. Perhaps we can come up with a few relevant questions. Eva Sodeik: To deal with the huge task of rebuilding the country and to know the other partner agencies and join hands with them. Carolyn Wagner: I am excited by this opportunity to work together with other groups for a common concern: Sierra Leone. Joe Wagner: To bring together those groups interested in Sierra Leone and see how we can work together. Thomas Kemper: There are two worlds: mission and development. How do they meet together in Sierra Leone? We need further understanding of both worlds. My expectation is that this consultation will provide a unique chance for the UMC and the MC to work together. Bishop Klaiber summarized the expectations: 1. Medical care; concerns for children and women 2. Networking (matching resources) 3. Management process (to know how to help on a technical level) 4. Bringing the whole African experience together 5. What approaches are needed? PURPOSE OF CONSULTATION Bishop Joseph Humper:
This in my judgment or opinion is the mandate of the church. In this process it is evident that all fingers are not equal but collectively they can accomplish great things for God. The strong must strengthen the weak for harmonious living or co-existence.
Joseph Wagner: -- My concern and reason for wanting and initiating this consultation was:
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SIERRA LEONE CRISIS: Bishop Humper: The present crisis actually started in 1961, but we have been able to struggle through. The tribal aspects are political in nature. There are 15 tribal groups, with two major groups vying for political leadership, the Timne (North) and the Mende (South). The Krios swing back and forth according to who is in power. Through the international community, we have been able to sign a peace agreement. By now we should have gone through disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex-combatants. There has been some hijacking of the process of the timeline. To date only 2,000 of the 45,000 soldiers have been disarmed. Some of the rebel leaders have been given places in the present government. The rebels have refused to surrender their arms and so the UN agreed to send 6,000 peace-keeping troops to work with ECOMOG. To date peace-keepers from Kenya, India, Nigeria, and Guinea have arrived and are in place. It is hoped that by December 15 there will be a large emphasis on disarming the youth. There are 14 political parties in Sierra Leone, with a population of 4.5 million. The security situation is very difficult. December 11 two expatriates were captured; they are holding these men because Sam Bockrie is sidelined. In essence there are numerous violations of the peace accord. Fodah Sankoh is playing a double game. Two congressmen from the US recently met with the religious council. It was expressed that if the UN would dare to give President Kabbah, Fodah Sonkah, and Johnny Paul Koroma an ultimatum, things would be different. Sierra Leone alone cannot disarm the soldiers, but the international community can force them to disarm. We have the great need to rebuild the minds of the people. Kono and Kallian districts are not safe. Mary Ann Robinson said that these were the worst atrocities she had ever seen. The rebels are controlling the diamonds. The mineral resources that should be the blessing have become the curse. Blanket amnesty: The country was at the point where the rebels controlled much of the country. The lesser of the two evils was to give amnesty. The government agreed to a blanket amnesty to try to bring about peace. The UN signed in protest. Do not forget that the western world has a double standard. Ulf: How we relate respective to our government? Response:
Bishop Klaiber: We need to know what we can ask our government. Fred: It is an agonizing thing for the people to forgive. There must be a priority of conflict mediation. Bishop Humper: Revolution happens to bring new meaning and to salvage a situation. Revolution is not to amputate, to destroy property, etc. Paul: Has anyone done a study the structure of the diamond transactions? Bishop Humper: Yes, Liberia exports them, and then they become official and can be sold anywhere. Is the Interreligious council monitoring the peace accord? With the peace-keepers coming, they are waiting to see what can happen. The religious leaders are looked upon to help bring the peace. How does one talk about peace and justice without doing more harm than good? Summary by Bishop Klaiber:
SPECIFIC CONCERNS OF PARTNERS IN MISSION AND DEVELOPMENT IN SIERRA LEONE: Bread For The World/EZE Dr. Eva Sodeik EZE is money from government. Bread for the World--a private donor agency. Rural development, primary health care, and skills training in self-help programs Can we justify our donors investing in programs that do not work? Sierra Leone has great needs and is trying find funds to help the infrastructure. The major emphasis will be on reconciliation and how to help keep the peace process going. We decided not to work on infrastructure. Donor agencies question whether they should do anything because of the insecurity of the situation. Dienste in Ubersee/Services Overseas: Krischan Johnannsen KED donate funds for structures/development Recruit staff and help to develop personnel Problems-- personnel planning Concentrating on 4 issues with a fifth concern: 1. Trauma healing -- women/children/child soldiers -- Elaborate process. A village process. Working on an African model. 2. Disabled people -- Church has not always been very interested in the disabled 3. Reconciliation -- Important to support initiatives 4. Disarmament -- One possible idea is to provide things for the ex-soldiers, rather than money, in exchange for their weapons. 5. Finance a country-wide study of a national vocational training A lengthy discussion related to the study
GBGM: Contexts and Relationships: Zebediah Marewangepo Questions we ask in our areas: What is the context in which the church is living in the region today? How are we engaged in mission in Africa? What are the critical concerns for the UMC, and economical? How can the GBGM address these concerns? It works in cross section with all parts of the Board. We have done our own survey, of the economical and political situation in Sierra Leone. We ask, "What are the church's strengths?" Then we look at what the church is doing in the various conferences. What are their needs? Sierra Leone -- We are trying to help people in mission in their own country. Funding eight positions in SL. We give a block grant. We are supportive of areas of evangelism and leadership development. We have made grants from the millennial fund. There is also the Bishop's appeal for Hope for the Children of Africa Advance specials: approved projects by the GBGM, and usually donor-designated Africa Church Growth and Development Fund New program: HOPE FOR THE WORLD --Drug and Alcohol abuse and drug trafficking. . Women's Division: Maxine West Largest concern: Harford School -- guaranteed funds when they can get back to Moyamba Women, Children, and Youth are not left out in the over-all planning $50,000 in Sierra Leone 20 million dollars annual income UMCOR: Paul Dirdak UMCOR is an agency of the Sierra Leone Church UMCOR raises funds from UMC and spends it among all people Donor base of ten million people, 1/2 make contributions each year Funds raised in UMCOR --9.6% undesignated Spent 4 times more funds than received Received 100 times more for Kosovo as received for Sierra Leone Where do we have the ability to raise funds for Sierra Leone? In kind contributions can be a problem but can also be of great value 2 areas of fund raising in the US We are a disposable consumer society Diamond selling. There was a discussion on forming a program to raise public awareness of the sale of illegal diamonds. There is real interest in this project among the various partners. Paul raised the question, "What if UCMOR could sponsor Bishop Humper and a Sierra Leonean who is Muslim to speak together on behalf of Sierra Leone? What would this do to help the peace process?" UMCOR AND THE NGO situation We can work with NGO's and government agencies How UMCOR continues to build upon the peace building process Trauma healing is an important and hot issue. There is a need for primary health care and trauma counseling. Angola has a prosthesis program we should look into. UMCOR has learned of a program in Viet Nam that makes upper arm prostheses. The clinics in Sierra Leone can be a part of the hospital funding. Volunteer involvement -- In the fall of 2000. VIM sends out 1000 per week. In 1998 the volunteers raised 10 times as much as the program cost ($16,000,000). UM Health Care Volunteers (300 members). UMCOR paid a salary for a coordinator. His commitment is to expand this to 1000 members by the end of 2,000. Operation Classroom: Joseph Wagner Operation Classroom works in partnership with the Sierra Leone Conference in the areas of education, health, vocational education, counseling, and especially trauma counseling. It also sees itself as a coordinating link in those areas in the States and has attempted to assist Bishop Humper in any way possible. Therefore, we have a consultation in the States either before or after the Council of Bishops meeting each spring and fall, with those conferences and individuals interested in planning and coordinating our activities in Sierra Leone. We bring these specific concerns to this consultation: Where can we find the resources (both financial and human) to assist in the refurbishing the schools? We are working in 7 secondary schools, and 4 primary schools. There are 11 other secondary schools and over 200 primary schools which also have great needs. Where can we find the plastic sheeting and the funds to make temporary buildings for many of the schools? How can we use our experience in Liberia to assist the Sierra Leone Conference in developing an effective program of counseling/healing? How can what we have partnered with the Sierra Leone conference in counseling fit into the over-all plan of the church? Where can we find the resources to train and place counselors in 50% of all UMC schools? Can we develop a peer counseling, conflict mediation program in the UMC schools? Where can we find the partners to further develop the Kissy Urban Center? How can we resource the continuing need for a malnutrition program? How can we find other partners to work in the health field? How can we find the resources for a vehicle for the urban center so they can work in other geographical areas? How can we recruit medical professionals to come to the Kissy Urban Center? Where can we find the resources and the staff to develop two vocational centers: at Bo, and at Albert Academy? How can we develop a small loan program? Bishop Humper described the present school situation: Of the elementary 215 schools, less than 1/2 are functioning Over a total of 1923 schools in Sierra Leone, 95% are not functioning 1/2 of the students are not learning. Kissy Eye Clinic: Dr. Lowell Gess Visited Eye Clinic in September Met with staff of 20 $119,832 damage done to the hospital Dr. Gess shared how he started in the eye surgery at Rotifunk, in 1955. Later he studied eye surgery Have trained six eye doctors from various West Africa countries. Has concern to raise the needed funds, especially to support Doctor Ferugson -- the need to treat our doctors in an equal manner. MC in Britain and Ireland/ MRFD: Fred Munce Works with British church The Methodist Church in Sierra Leone does things well when it comes to Relief and Development work. Would like to see more work with the Christian Council. 1. The church is a great dynamic. We don't always know whether to invest in buildings or persons. Is there anything to hold onto like the joint parish? ( the need for partners). A careful evaluation of funding. 2. Displaced persons' camps---need to be upgraded. 3. An executive committee should be appointed from this group to identify plans and procedures, funding, and evaluation. How can we as European friends pool our resources to help Sierra Leone? Presbyterian Church -- Joe Skasko Started with loading a container of rice Planning a workteam to Kissy in March Swedish Board of Missions: Ulf Rickardsson Pa Lokko had a model village Agricultural models Clinic Orphanage Vocational program In 1995 Pa Lokko was attacked and abandoned A dilemma: Shall we get involved at Pa Lokko again? We need to revise our priorities and trying to determine whether to place money in building and people. We have two major project proposals: Primary health care and community based health care program and rehabilitation. Support for trauma healing. Continuing of scholarship education Concerned about cooperation and coordination Children's village for the orphaned…Now what do we do as they are becoming adults? Many of the children are handicapped. They are concerned about rehabilitation. German Board of Mission: Walter Volz One of the partner churches they are supporting is Sierra Leone. 1.5 million dollars in the past 10 years 16 missionaries overseas Major focus at Jaiama (health program) Ran up to 700 outpatients per day Supporting Harford medical students Supporting scholarships Evangelism Nursing scholarships Concerns: How can we best assist the church in Sierra Leone in time of great need? How can we relate to the local churches? Recommended that Jaiama nurses receive the peace award from World Methodist Council SUMMARY OF CONCERNS: 1. Disarmament 2. Trauma healing 3. Disabled people 4. Reconciliation 5. Prostheses 6. Diamonds 7. Muslim/Christian joint efforts for peace 8. Exchange of experiences 9. Counseling in schools and churches 10. Temporary schools 11. Vocational education 12. Invest in buildings or persons? 13. Displaced people 14. DDR 15. Executive Committee 16. Coordination and cooperation 17. Shared projects 18. Funding new perspectives 19. Scholarship needs 20. Rebuild or reorient building programs 21. Transportation 22. Providing opportunities for rural women 23. Community health and trauma healing 24. Contract Wednesday, February 15 Devotions by the Methodist Church Scripture from Matthew 25: the parable of the Great Judgment Roy Crowder based his devotional upon the card game "Snap," and what he calls "Gospel Snap." What is your "Gospel Snap?" Bishop Klaiber's Summary of Tuesday's Meeting:
Actions and programs How to do the programs Advocacy How to work as relief and donor organizations Francis Nabieu -- Methodist Church of Sierra Leone The issue: After the war, what now? The rebels feel threatened by the UN troops Those in camps in Guinea feel threatened --- What are the people going home to? While in Guinea they are getting everything free, but when they come back to Sierra Leone they will not have free food, free education, and free school supplies, etc.> Health systems broken down Problems of health, water, and sanitation How do we resettle the people, including the pastors? There is the need for the people who are experienced to stand with the people. Counseling over the next few years will be a priority; this will become a burden to the church because "everyone comes to church." Communication system is broken down The church needs to have the capacity and the strength to help the people The problem is finding the financial means There is a real need for capacity building In summary, Sierra Leone is destroyed, both in people and property. The church is the only hope. Bishop Humper: The church in Sierra Leone is the powerhouse and there is no machinery. MINUTES OF DONOR SECTION (The groups divided into two groups) There is a need for a central planning development unit in Sierra Leone The MCSL has a development desk The UMC does not have a development desk Coordination Team from the donor group To be appointed to pick up the unfinished business The establishment of a development office for UMC Maxine West to head this up GBGM Tell us what is needed OC will give a computer Germany will help fund the office Relief work -- UMCOR will assume the leading role Refugee services can be appealed 3 categories of funds for relief work Undesignated Through an ACT appeal Designated Someone has to calculate how much can be served by a set figure? i.e. $10,000 Clergy placement is a church-related matter One program per church (MCSL, UMC) Health -- MCSL 2 clinics -- Freetown, Kenema (nursing school at Kenema) UMC 12 clinics and medications Medicine box program of UMCOR -- Could the other churches assist in this program? Sweden received a community based health-training program proposal with a . $95,000 total budget Germany will take the lead for the medications Germany is also involved in assisting in training nurses Water/sanitation Permanent wells are needed Dug wells will not be completed before 2001 Drilled wells are very expensive and there is a question about the present well drilling equipment There are many possibilities for water purification This should be the responsibility of UN and the Sierra Leone government. OXFAM also does well drilling Trauma "Service Overseas" will provide staff but the program has to be ecumenical Sweden has received a proposal for trauma program Women's division has a concern for Harford School. Are we talking about training the trainers? Operation Classroom has a counseling training and healing program.
IMPLEMENTING REPORT Work will be "joint" but there will be two separate works Central Planning Development It should be a Powerhouse There needs to be a coordinating body Common joint projects Ministers' Needs (71 MSL 120 UMC) Workshops Books, etc. Security Proper resources Shelter Family provision
Repatriation Pre-program for refugees Work with UNCR Church must be seen to be in action Water a problem everywhere The obtaining of rice will be worked out between MCSL and UMC and UMCOR How to balance a water strategy with a food strategy. Consider working with other NGO's
Health - Koidu--work together Nixon Hospital Mobile clinics Community based health care training Community based family care Other community based type of health care 15 nurses trained in community based health care in India There is also the need for personnel
Trauma Counseling Freetown--center There is a difference between trauma counseling and trauma healing Germany can approach "Services Overseas" to do the training How do we fund the long term? Agriculture/food/micro credit Did not have time to discuss Vocational /skills Did not have time to discuss Advice to Donors
Thursday, December 16, 1999 Paul Dirdak, action chairperson The items we reserved for this morning
Three documents presented
Zebediah raised the question, "Do we meet again as a group?" Paul read the passage of scripture read Isaiah 35 Rose of Sharon-- a high mountain pass The soil was always stirred up because of war. When you see a plant in Sharon you will know the Messiah has come. The child who believed she would have her hands grown back. By sheer force of will, we will generate God's hands. REMEMBER: Be sure to use trauma counseling and not trauma healing Hans Gudeerian, European Baptist Mission He emphasized Wednesday the need to use the media for promotional purposes. He then shared his experience of the newspaper giving him much space to share his message on Sierra Leone. REPORT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE Coordinating team --- Communication Who are the contact persons? How are we going to carrying our work as a coordinating body? The key people for the implementation team is the directors of the development group with copies to both development directors and heads of the church The issue of communication: The normal process is to communicate with head of the church.
2 a iii is pending due process B. Placement of Ministers The UMC and MCSL will be submitting a budget to the donors for funding for the pastors as outlined in this section. The church in Sierra Leone does not have the resources to carry out this section of funds. This (specifically targeting pastors) is not a common understanding of most relief donor organizations focus. MRDF would not support the program, but the mission side of the church would be helping. C. Question of transit camps Consent to taking the verb to "establish"' and change to "working in transit camps" Paul raised the question of the title: Relief-Repatriation-Resettlement-Rehabilitation Rehabilitation is not really a part of the first three, but is issue in itself D. Health, Water and Sanitation We understand everything that has to do with health is put in this section. Plans for HIV AIDS workshop is also a part of this E. Trauma Counseling Ulf: raised a question about this whole section Bishop Humper: "We need a trauma-counseling center in Freetown as soon as possible." Someone stated: "If we move in an ecumenical movement it will take a long time." Maxine West asked, "What is the proposal to the Swedish board? Is it a training of trainers?" Bob Sam-Kpaarka – "The conference sees the need to create a facility for counseling." Maxine West: "The training of trainers is the most urgent need at this time." Zebediah Marewangepo: "Let us not take away the vision of the people of Sierra Leone" Hans Gudeerian, European Baptist Mission --not possible for one center, but a coordinating function F: Agricultural, Food and Micro Credit Scheme WFP should not be mentioned, but insert "Some NGO's Micro-Credit is a loan and not a gift Micro-Credit is to help them develop themselves in leadership This is a program proposal DONORS PLANS AND PRIORITIES 2. A Change approved to We affirmed 2. C following the end of the sentence insert "pending due process" 3. D delete "provide" to "coordinate projects for" The understanding of the funding of a UMC development desk, it is understood that the MCSL has a development desk 5. Coordinating Team Maxine will establish a list serve (one address) Transparent flow of information 6. OTHER CONCERNS FOR CONSIDERATION DIAMOND CONCERNS
Bishop Humper: If Sierra Leone had no diamonds, there would not have been a rebel war as we know it, and if the international community could see that the diamonds have been our "curse" or war, then something could perhaps be done to the illegal mining diamonds. We need to take the initiative to raise an awareness. We need to check to see what other groups are also doing advocacy. We need be aware of the NGO's who are there to be involved in the diamond business. The selling of diamonds is not only a threat to the Sierra Leone people but also to the Liberians. Liberia is tired of what is happening and are working to rid the people of the rebels When asked of the danger Bishop Humper said, " There is no way to retreat- we must act." President Francis said, "We have left too many things undone and we must confess these things." Thomas reminded that there is also the need to find the link of the arms trade and the diamond sales. to remember we are also related to business, and our high costs are related to their business. Bishop Humper. Our experience is that the war would not have gone as far as it did without of some of the NGO'S. CHRISTIAN/MUSLIM CONCERNS Paul Dirdak feels that alerting the Christians in the USA to the Christian/Muslim cooperation would be helpful. Tom Kemper feels this would be good for the government and not good for the church Fred -- It would not work well in Ireland, but may work in Britain. Has there been any proselytizing between the UMC and Muslim? Bishop Humper "No proselytizing" The Muslims and Christians realized that though they have difference in religion, they have one thing in common and that is "justice and peace." Zebediah -- I was skeptical till I went to Rotifunk where I met with some Muslims there and I changed my mind. Francis Nabieu: The focus is the country itself. If we avoid coming together there will be a repeat of what has happened. Bishop Humper: December 5, the HIV/AIDS workshop, a Muslim said "If anything is going to be done it is done by the Christians." This topic will not be set to theological issues. Agreement that Paul Dirdak will organize a visit of representatives of the inter-religious council to visit the various countries. Each country will use the delegation as they so choose. DOCUMENTATION: Francis: We need to be guided by the donors. Bishop: Pictures of events --- get personnel to write a narrative of the events. Put together a team to put together a documentary under the umbrella of the Church of Sierra Leone or the Inter-religious council. Can you sub titles? Paul responded , "Yes, we can ." GBGM will cooperate with the other central conferences to assist them in videos, etc, Zebediah: DO WE NEED TO MEET AGAIN? Idea: Perhaps we can work through the coordinating committee the details of the plans Thomas: We need not meet as this group, but we look and see if we need to meet. Bishop Humper: We do need a face to face meeting from time to time. Francis: Meetings are costly, but they are helpful.
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