Goderich Waldorf School Sierra Leonie

A Waldorf school began near Freetown in 2001.  Shannoh Kandoh began this school for the orphaned street children working for the  for the fisheries who had lost parents through war and Aids, living on the beach.  Over the years and several changes of venue including Godrich, 8 acres of land was bought in Rokel and a building constructed with volunteers.
The school has over 300 children and has from class 1 to class 6.  In class 7 are examinations and the child enters a state school.
Godrich Waldorf School offers FREE education.  The orphans, now also from Ebola, all have a home with adopted parents who have come forward in the Rokel Community. There great wish is to continue up into high school but that would mean more teachers to pay and classes to be built. The present teachers, dedicated to their work, are volunteers who receive some payment through donors.
We met happy children, grateful for education and for the stability being offered to them.
As we moved from class to class, we understood Shannoh"s great wish to have the teachers receive more training in Waldorf Education. The enthusiasm of the teachers is evident and they would do well with further training.
A special school with a special mission and one worthy of support.

                                                           The first school on bought land

                                                       Now Class 6 classroom

                                             With sign WELCOME JULIA AND JANET

                                          The present school which was built by volunteers

                                                                    In the classroom

                                                                 
                                                                    Meet the Teachers

Liberia

There is a feeling of displacement here but a striving to rise again out of the rubble.  The war is over by many years now "but we are not back yet to how we were before".
We were to meet Grace at Amazing Grace - but Grace was not there.
The luxurious apartment organised for us did not accept us after all as we changed 4 days to 3 days.
Resettled now in a small Hotel. Very pleasant and welcoming Hotel and highly recommended HOTEL VELDINA near REHAB JUNCTION on airport highway. and just a block away from the sea/beach.
We went out to a rural village Sanoyea District in Bong County. I was struck by the beauty of nature - so abundant. There was a big forum happening where a PEACE TREATY was signed - reconciliation between two political parties both lead by women.
Here we met with forum of farmers and were taken to see a woman's initiative - see pics below.
Thereafter we went to Cuttington University where we met with the Dean, lecturers and some students in the Agricultural Faculty
All were VERY INTERESTED in IPMT and the Biodynamic approach, and ALL wanted to attend. I asked that they chose the responsible ones who could learn and later share the fruits of IPMT with those who could not attend.
Meeting he Head of Central Agricultural Research Institute later was an interesting experience - he, a learned man, who has been active all over Africa.
An inspiring day and my birthday. Thank you Jonathan for all you organised for us on this day.
The following day we met a woman, Harriette, who is involved in Monrovia Consolidated School System MCSS -   arm of Ministry of Education that operates all public schools in Monrovia. She took us to one of the schools 1400 students in high school, 1500 children in Primary. We met with both heads who were very interested in the Waldorf approach.
Later meeting the Superintendent at MCSS, I was again met with a deep interest in IPMT and the Waldorf approach.
Later meeting a group of women, including YALI fellows, Amazing Grace and we4self organisation, all active in health, human rights for women and children, social work, economic structure and empowerment for women.  A nurse who has worked in the EBOLA crisis and helped all to find a compassionate way of treating, touching and helping those with Ebola.
This country has been hard hit with war and then Ebola.
Also Shannoh for all your assistance in getting us to Liberia and Sierra Leonie - next blog.

Sierra Leonie ADVENTURE

Arriving at the border of Sierra Leonie began a hair-raising roller-coaster ride from 8 a.m. to 7p.m.
This was not only FUN but totally frightening at times as the 4-wheeler Pajero slipped and slid rocked and climbed the so called road which was the worst possible road you can imagine and then worse than that.  As I looked ahead at what was to come I could not imagine how we would possibly make it but we did though several times we had to walk while the wheel was removed and the axle repaired (TWICE) or the engine needed some assistance.  The walking time was wonderful - the nature so very beautiful. In fact the whole journey was beautiful and the11 passengers squashed together like sardines in a can could only laugh at the danger we often felt we were in. The driver did a sterling job and we all became really close friends as we got to know each other _ a special day and one I will never forget. Coconut juice as we crossed a river in a locally crafted ferry boat and carried ashore by a young gallant man
On arrival we were escorted by passengers to a hotel(of sorts) The STAR hotel in BO Town as it was too late to continue our journey. Only when safely accommodated were our new friends content. An early morning arrival of Hawa who came to escort us to the next stage of this journey to Rokel Community.  ALL my luggage and me on a motor-bike to the taxi-rank.

                                                                  The road we climbed

                                                                        Car problems

                               On the way we met lovely scenes of rural life in Sierra Leonie

                                                                       Beautiful Nature

                                                               Crossing the great river

                                                                                Hawa

                                                                     Coconut Drink

                                                                    Pulled Across

                                                                      To the other side

GIFT OF YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leader's is the flagship of President Barack Obama,s YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITATIVE (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.
The "fellows" who are between 25 and 35 years age, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovative and positive change in their organisations, institutions communities and countries. Out of 50,000 applications only 1000 were chosen from 49 African countries.
I have had the privilege of meeting YALI Fellows in all the different countries I have been visiting as my colleague on this journey, Janet Manoni, is herself a 2016 YALI fellow.
These Fellows have not only hosted us but also organised a programme of meetings with organisations and individuals active in healing, education, farming, social work and care, human rights. This has given me the opportunity to meet remarkable people doing wonderful work throughout Africa. Doctors, Nurses, Social workers, Professors, Deans, Superintendents, Directors, Educators, Ministry, hospitals, schools and farms and many NGO's begun and directed by these young people.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to you YALI FELLOWS for your wonderful care and organisation during this mission.
As we leave each country Janet says "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."  YAY thanks to you.
Janet herself has an NGO -FoCC - Friends of Children with Cancer. In this organisation she cares for the child in hospital, the support to the family, organising funding for the needs and expenses of medication, education in the hospital so the children who might be in hospital for several years have a school within the hospital, volunteers to help, bringing awareness to all about cancer in children so that children can be treated before it is too late - she can boast 85% children can be cured if treated early enough, and those that do not survive - she sees that they have a burial. She has taken on Hydrocephalitis and spinabifida and other non- communicable diseases AND MUCH MORE.
TO QUOTE NELSON MANDELA
"Leadership is behavioural, not positional: The capacity to integrate, motivate, and mobilise others to bring a common aspiration to life is what leadership is all about, not holding positions of formal authority"
Yes Madiba we are all leaders and we need to discover this within ourselves.
The journey continues