Construction of Skill training centre to skill EX-COMBATANT AND ILLITERATE YOUTHS.

Official end to the civil war was declared in January 2002 in Sierra Leone. The first post-civil war, elections were held in May 2002. Country is far behind in terms of socio-economic development , education, reduction of poverty, health care, malnutrition etc. The citizens are struggling to make meaningful living. Even today, country depends on food supply from other countries to meet food deficiency. No factories were established ;thus, job opportunity for youth is very less.

TARGET BENEFICIARIES:- The ex-combatant, illiterate youth of Mende, Temne, Limba, Kuranko, Susu, Yalunka, Kono ,Kisi Sherbro, Bullom, Vai, Krim , Fulani and Malinke ethnic groups of SIERRA LEONE.

PROJECT GOAL:- Combating covid-19 crisis through skill training of 2150 ex-combatant, illiterate youths in multiple livelihood activities each year in Sierra Leone.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:- Skill 2150 ex-combatant and illiterate youths and provide them options for livelihood each year in Sierra Leone.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
1. Construction of training center with hostel facility for 75 participants.
2. Training annually 400 youth in mason through 10 days residential training.
3. Training 400 youth in improved cereals (Rice, wheat, vegetables) with support of irrigation facility.
4. Capacitating of 400 youth annually for cultivation of pulses with improved methodology.
5. Training in 150 youth in Turmeric and ginger to the youth residing in forest locality.
6. Training of 200 youth annually on horticulture.
7. Tailoring training to 150 girls.
8. Annually capacitating 300 youth on livestock.
9. Opening of vegetable and grocery shop to 150 youth.
10. Formation of PG of youth cultivating cereals, pulses, turmeric, ginger, horticulture and livestock.
11. Provision of seed fund to the youths.

PROBLEMS TO BE ADDRESSED
(A) EMPLOYMENT AND LIVELIHOOD: - Thousands of ex-combatant and illiterate youths are greatly affected with the situation of the country and COVID-19. They are ex-combatant and illiterate youth without skill. Thus, it is very difficult to get jobs in the market. All those who had migrated in search of job are back to their respective village. Food consumption has increase but income is depended on the seasonal rain; thus, this situation has increased health hazard, illiteracy, poverty and finally crime ratio. They are depending on external support for food supply. We believe external support at the time of need is good but not good for long terms. Thus, with this project, we want to teach ex-combatant and illiterate youth to fish rather than giving them fish to eat. All the livelihood activities on which we want to train youth does not require education.

(B) AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INSECURITY:-Food vulnerability has remained a key challenge for the people who live in rural communities as they largely depend on subsistence farming as source of livelihood and the situation of hunger in the country. Until date, country is depended on external food supply. However, how long other countries will support! Self-dependency on food supply is important.

(C) ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS:- When no option is left for poor youth, they chose the option that is available to them. That is what is happening in the country. Food insecurity and hunger is forcing the ethnic community to cut trees to sell to buy food. This will lead to deforestation and climate change. Increase soil erosion and affect soil health. The forest cover will decrease rapidly so also the climate.

(D) UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS:-Ever since the civil war, country is in turmoil. Private factories, public enterprise have not opened in the country. Even if there are small factories, since the youth are unskilled, they are not getting jobs. There are no sectors open to equip ex-combatant and illiterate youth so that they can make their life easier and better. In all the national civil war, it is the youth who have suffered greatly and become victims. Through them their entire family is greatly affected and no in the worse situation.

(E) SKILL TRAINING:- There aren’t any institution, which provide training to ex-combatant and illiterate youth and make them capable to make life easier. Focus is only on youth ,who are partially educated. Since education is out of reach, the youth coming from poor ethnic background cannot afford formal education. Each day they struggle to maintain the lives. Since there aren’t any options; therefore, they getting in crimes and many are killed. They are not finding any options to make livelihood thus they are forced by the situation to take any means possible to support their life and their families.

(F) UNTAPPED AREAS OF LIVELIHOOD: - Since we are working with different ethnic groups in the country, we were able to identify through PRA exercise different livelihood options for ex-combatant and illiterate youth. The untapped areas are mason, cereals, pulses, Turmeric and ginger, horticulture and livestock. As youth will be skilled, they will not choose crime but peaceful means of life. As youth will be engaged in different areas, they will earn money to support their families. As income increase, the ratio of crime will decrease. They will be able to educate their children. Be able to take care of their basic needs and will not be depended on external food supply. The untapped areas once tapped through this program, it will be able to decrease food shortage of the country.

PROJECT RATIONAL AND JUSTIFICATION:-
(A) OUTCOME OF FREQUENT CIVIL WAR
Frequent civil war has make life of the citizen so miserable and pathetic. In particular, youth have become main victims of each civil war and post-civil war. Post-civil war, they are forced to crime to maintain their livelihood. They are struggling to find jobs for they are not skilled; it is very difficult to find jobs. Development is not at par to support growing needs of the citizens. Even now, no one is sure about the next day. Due to political instability, education system, institutes offering skill training and hospital are greatly affected. Formal schools are out of reach of the poor ethnic community so also the skill training and health care facilities.
Ex-combatant and illiterate youth are not burden for the country but are useful. They can be skilled and supported to take up livelihood options only then the food insecurity will decrease and the ratio of crime in the country. As more and more ex-combatant and illiterate youth will be skilled and begin to earn, the situation of their family will improve. Regular source of income will support them to make life better. After skill training, provision of seed fund will enable them to start an additional source of income for the family. The youth who are idle, involved in crimes will eventually leave and join mainstream of the society.
(B) SOCIAL MAINSTREAMING:-
Sierra Leone, describes its relationship with the ex‐combatants of the rebel RUF as a state of being “sensitized” to their presence. However, we argue that “sensitization” connotes civilians’ acceptance of ex‐combatants living among them, while they refuse to incorporate ex‐combatants into the social order. Civilians, although treating the war as a “state of exception,” refuse to grant ex‐combatants the grace of belonging to this exceptional time. They question whether youth socialized to violence against elders ever belonged to the social world is the point of argument; thus the possibility of their reintegration is suspended. Ex‐combatants’ assertive demands for social acceptance, through “useful” work to “mainstream” them, rendering them socially and economically integration.
(C) SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS
It is the legacy and ongoing threat of historical neglect and marginalization of youth in Sierra Leone, and the implications for the peace building process in the country. This threat, embedded in the current socio-economic status quo, has bred energetic but disillusioned, violence-tested and frustrated youth willing to resort to any means for survival. Such societal vulnerabilities, stemming in part from young people’s willingness to engage in violence, continue to test the resilience of the peace building process. This is the result of the finding of extensive interviews and focus group discussions conducted with youth and other relevant stakeholders across the country on issues related to youth and the peace building process in Sierra Leone. Findings from this study provide new perspectives on the challenges faced by youth, the government’s inability to meet their needs, and the implications for the country’s peace building process. This directly indicated to youth demanding for work not war. Peace is good but peace is not enough to continue life. In order to continue life, multiple livelihood option is important.

EXPECTED OUTCOME:-
1. Country will have an established training institution for ex-combatant and illiterate youth.
2. Each year 2150 ex-combatant and illiterate youth will be skilled in different themes as per their choice and suitability of the area.
3. Out of 2150 youths trained, 100% youths involved in crimes will leave crime and will be mainstreamed.
4. 2150 youth will improve socio-economic situation of 2150 families.
5. 35% decrease in food deficiency and dependency.
6. 15% increase in the number of children acquiring formal education.
7. 5% increase IMR and MMR ratio.
8. 5 % decrease in the ratio of crimes committed by youth.
9. 5% increase in the number of children going to formal schools.
10. Each year,2150 families will come out of food insufficiency, vicious circle of poverty.