Day 4 Higher Learning

  What was once a historical collegiate centre has now become a dilapidated campus in need of a serious overhaul? I arrive anxious to see what the former  jewel of West Africa looks  like at  present day.  located on the  lush  Mt. Aureole overlooking Freetown,  Fourah Bay was  established in 1827  by  Church Missionary Society. It quickly became a destination for  higher learning throughout the continent of Africa  and abroad and earned the prestigious title of “The Athens  of West Africa.”  Today it’s obvious that Fourah Bay has lost its luster. Still the best of several colleges in

Sierra Leone the campus surely has seen better days

While waiting for friends, still in class, I casually

make a “B” line for the library. Once

there I am shocked. This can’t be

the library of a historic institution?

Barely bigger than a Harlem bodega; I

It would take less than two hours to inventory the

whole library …Someone should tell Oprah

Winfrey about this?

The campus grounds are beautiful there are gardens outdoor sitting areas and lush green

 surrounding the mountain.

 friends Lucy & Tumba greet us

 shortly and we hit the pavement.

The style of dress on campus mirrors that

of the American college student; rugby

& polo shirts, converse footwear,

 designer bags, tight jeans, high heels


baseball caps, messengers’ bags , and virtually no sign of traditional clothing.

Popular fields of study include

engineering & Political Science but

resources are sparse.

Tuition fees are about $600 U.S. per

term. These fees may not cover the cost

 of text books in the Western World.

However the average Sierra Leonean

income is around $900 a year according to the CIA world Fact book.

The buildings are run down, classrooms

are overcrowded without air conditioning,

and decrepit hostiles have busted

windows.

We later find out that lectures are at times

held outside because classrooms cannot

accommodate the number of students attending.

However, astonishingly enough, we are soon to encounter some of the sharpest, and

most determined young adults that we’ve have ever come across.

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Students, held no punches expressing their feelings, “We have a medical building

with no medications, a library with few books, limited Internet service and tuition fees

have increased -again!" “We do not even have

 adequate transportation up and down the

mountain." 

Transportation up and down Mt Aureole

is insufficient and currently limited to two

buses for over 4000 students.  This

translates into long cues and late arrivals

 to classes forcing students rely on friends with cars to lend a hand.

“They have introduced new degree courses but they do not even provide all the material

 needed to study and pass. "They tell us

to go to the Internet cafes in town  if we

can't find what we need on campus." 

And in the best English that education can

buy one young man says quite simply,

"It's Fucked up."

  Graduates see few employment opportunities upon obtaining their degrees. "There is

nothing here for us. Do you see anything here for us? There are no jobs!"

This prompts the question; what does having

 a college degree means to you? One

young man responds, "It's just a piece of

paper."

More than 50% of the youth population,

w/ or without education, is unemployed



an estimate, and according to the country’s President, is steadily increasing.

Even with a burgeoning campus of talents, many students believe that the only path to

success is to migrate out of their native land and pursue careers and opportunities

 abroad.

However not everyone is looking to flee,”I want to

stay and work in my country. I want to contribute to

making it better and prosperous" was the sentiment

of one young man.

And indeed he should. This country seems to have

 all the right elements to creating wealth starting with its most

 valuable resource, its young people.

We sit in on a student forum the hall rumbles with students

                                                                                   quoting Abraham Lincoln to

reinforce their political points and

overthrowing the floor with rhetoric.

At the behest of the students we track

down the student body President Mr.

Timu. He has all the swagger of a leader

and faces all the challenges as well.



 He shares with us that he has just ended a meeting where the student body was

successful in reducing tuition fees to the prior year's rate (about $60 less.)  Timu is

asked about the success rate of female graduates. He admits that the men excel above

the young women academically and this is reflected in the rate of graduation.

He also reiterates the lack of basic needs

for academic success. When asked if the

student body has ever appealed to the

President of the country he says, "We

have, and the President [Ernest Bai

Koroma ]  of our country is present at

every graduation ceremony, he  actually

graduated from Fourah Bay."  We asked

Mr. Timu if he ever asked the president

 how he feels when he sees the

deteriorating state of his Alma Mata. He

takes a thoughtful pause, turns with a half

 grin and says, "No I never have, do

you think I should?"

The students of Fourah Bay are sharp, funny and friendly, handing out invitations to this weekend’s

 party an inviting the “Americans to a cold Coke while discussing their basic educational

needs. With a crumbling campus, outdated facilities,

 soaring tuition fees, and a severe lack of  basic

resources; these determined young people stay on

course amidst their  dire circumstances. If they can

make it here then they can make it anywhere. If that

ain't higher learning, then what is?







POST SCRIPT
One of the most important questions asked of every student encountered about there

educational needs was;   "What are your challenges?"

The answers were consistent from one student to the next.  Therefore each discussion

was closed with the same question:

If you could address the school board as well as the President and say,

"These are 3 things that we absolutely need in order to receive a proper education."

What would they be?

Wish list:

• Adequate internet service and computers

• Adequate transportation

• A complete Library and text booksPresently

The future is always ahead...

....

Sierra Leone stands the risk of losing their educated generation which could be

 detrimental to a country on the crest of infrastructural development & change.

This is a country with a

generous amount of natural

resources, fertile uncultivated

land, and an abundance of

talented and educated young

people who with the support

have the ability to turn this

country around.

One wonders why in a country where they are educating future engineers are they not

able to harness this talent.



We can hear the unison

laughter of the children walled

up behind the Ayoub

International School down the

road.

It is one of the most

impressive school buildings in

Freetown.

Over our balcony you can see the children of the Lebanese, the expats, and the upper

crust society of Sierra Leone spinning around in blue uniforms.

Upon entering university, they will be

shipped abroad to countries like Europe

and America to receive "a proper"

education," that will not limit them to the

 confines or conditions of their current

country.

Exhausted children return indoors to air-conditioned facilities and resume their lessons,

 while just outside the school lingers the unskilled undereducated lost generation of

Salone.

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    The typical Sierra Leonean primary school is a stark contrast to Ayoub's towering structure.

   Children walk dusty roads in tattered uniforms to dilapidated buildings up to six days a week.

    Resources are sparse & and

children attend school during one of two

shifts.    School days are divided into two

shifts (e.g. 8-1 and 2-7)  so that every

child may receive an education.




More than 45% of the population is under the age of thirty.

This means that more than 60% of the population lived through all or some parts of the 10 year long civil war in Sierra Leone that ended in 2002.

These are the ones that should be appealing for socio-economic change.

Many NGO's like World Baptist Alliance aim their efforts on educating and organizing grass roots movements with "Youth groups."

But doesn't one officially fall out of that category around 22 years of age?

So what is there for young adults outside of this age range whom have neither skills nor education?

Rudimentary tools deter

healthy young men &

women from working farms

and they instead sell their fares

 in town roadside.







Others have been fortunate to find service industry related jobs, however there aren't nearly enough hotels and restaurants to employ everyone.

Degree holding graduates want more than blue collar jobs. Suddenly I hear the sentiment of my Fourah Bay friend resonating in my head.

"What is here for us?"

Abu, a native to Sierra Leone and a U.N. official explains to me that the backbone of this country should have been agriculture.

Sierra Leone has two main seasons; the

 rainy season and Harmatten the dry

season. Both are ideal for lucrative cash crops.

“However agriculture is not prioritized,

the tools used are rudimentary and most

of the educated population thinks that it is

 better to work “White Collar” jobs.”

    Commissioned "Think tanks" where college grads collaborate on innovative ideas about how to tackle issues such as modernizing techniques for agricultural development

would be beneficial here.

Understanding that there is more to

creating and maintaining a profitable

& sustainable environment than

simply plowing plots of land is key.


Also, attention should be given to how

critical the combination of local and

learned knowledge is in the structural development of said goals.

It seems that the people have come to

terms with the state of their country’s

evolving socio-economic condition.

They press through life in respect of their

 current circumstances.

With the emergence of a new

government, new expectations and new promises to fulfill, perhaps Saloneans do

anticipate the strengthening of their country and the possibilities the future holds.

Day 8....The Ingenuity of Children

Signal Hill Scientists

We have roamed the city until reaching its outskirts passing the American Embassy and have arrived at British embassy housing to visit a companion.


Within the guarded gates, it looks like a neighborhood in middle class American – complete with side walks, paved streets and neatly kept lawns.

We engage the good doctor in my topic of discussion about FGM and gender inequality and he agrees that although women seem to be the backbone of the society, here they are severely marginalized.

He notes that tribes who engage this ritual are very strict. If a woman has not been circumcised then she is considered unfit for marriage.

What is fascinating however is that Krio women are highly sought after because they do not practice in female circumcision.



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On our way back to Signal hill a developing screnario forces an abrupt stop at the top of the street.


Q: What are they doing?”

A: (Lol) I think they are conducting an experiment.”

Q: Do something, We cannot drive through this!”

A: Well what would you suggest be done?”

Q: Can’t you go talk to them - get out the car and say something?”


Not knowing what I was supposed to say or do, I exited the car.

The children in the squatter camp next to us had taken all their shoes and lined them up width wise in the middle of the road.

Barefoot, they all squatted sidelined on the dirt road to see what would happen when the next car passed by.

After realizing this, I curious as well, lined up my shoes alongside theirs, and took the same position on the opposite side of the road.

Then urged my companions to go forth!

We screamed with excitement and I wondered who amongst them won that bet.

The shoes were spared; the line created was not wider than the dimension of the vehicle &  had not crushed one pair.

Crossing the street the little scientists were asked if they would like their photo taken?

With all the excitement and curiosity of children, they gathered up immediately at shot poses.

When asked, “Do you want to see the photo?” I was nearly flattened in red clay dirt from the children rushing full speed.

They laughed, squealed and pointed at the excitement of seeing their digital photo.

Three days later again at the top of the street the printed photos were distributed to children, who were even more excited to see themselves on paper!

After that event, everyone wanted to be in pictures.

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N.B.

The majority of the children involved were female, mostly bright friendly and extremely inquisitive.
These girls would not only benefit from a formal education but they would excel if given the support.
Most of the boys their age have been sent off to school. In a situation where a choice has to be made about who receives schooling, this is typically the outcome


It is not difficult to discern which problems concern women in particular and those which affect human rights. Some will say that the two are synonymous.

The scope of these issues goes beyond equal rights but also involves the health issues of women in particular. Here maternal-mortality is one of the highest in the world.

University and High School students are often propositioned by professors for sexual favors. For these young women, declining such proposals can result in a failing grade.

Another leading issue in Sierra Leone is domestic violence against women.

Awareness has been increased with the usage of bulletins throughout the city encouraging people to report such acts of violence.

But reporting these crimes can also result in a consequence of its own according to locals.