Sierra Leone
Country information
The Republic of Sierra Leone lies on the West Coast of Africa and has a total area of 71.740 km². The country borders Guinea to the North, North West and North East and Liberia and the Atlantic Ocean to the South West. The country has a tropical and humid climate. Sierra Leone is divided into three provinces (North, East and South) and one area (Western Area: a peninsula Freetown and a number of islands). The provinces of the Western Area are divided into fourteen districts. In addition to the national capital Freetown the most important cities are Bo (capital of Southern province), Kenema (capital of Eastern province) and Makeni (capital of North province). Sierra Leone has at least 6 million inhabitants, of whom nearly 45% are under 15 years of age. Life expectancy is 40 years. Sierra Leone has various ethnic groups. Temne in the North and Mende in the South, each with about 30% of the population, are the largest. The official language in Sierra Leone is English, which is used in schools, by the government and the courts. All newspapers appear in English. In addition about fifteen local languages are spoken, of which Krio, Mende, Limba and Temne are the most important. The languages are narrowly related to the ethnic groups who inhabit a particular region.
Partner organization
Christian Brothers
On arrival in Sierra Leone MBT provides reintegration support through its partner organization. Upon arrival the client receives a financial contribution. This sum is not given in cash but is spent under supervision of the partner organization on providing the means necessary for building a sustainable future in Sierra Leone.
MBT works together with the Christian Brothers in a project for returnees from the Netherlands. A specialised social worker offers support on arrival, in developing a business plan and providing credit, psycho-social support (together with HealthNet TPO) and family counseling. In addition business training is offered and the development of businesses is followed. Along with the project Beyond Borders for unaccompanied minors, the organization of Sierra Leoneans returned from the Netherlands, YOS (Youth of Sierra Leone), is supported and made accessible.
Example of return to Sierra Leone
Mahmud
Mahmud (not his real name) returned to Sierra Leone in late 2008. The first months were not easy. He was unable to find a job and started wondering whether he should have stayed in the Netherlands. But then his luck changed. One evening he got talking with a widow of a recently deceased disco owner. She told him how difficult it was for her to run the disco alone. Mahmud fell in love. That same week he moved in with her. Now he lives in a generously sized house with blue walls and a panther patterned couch. Business is going well and the disco is extremely popular. When he has saved enough money he is planning to buy a broad screen TV to show English Premier League football (Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have six million fans in Sierra Leone).
Research
'Return migration to Sierra Leone, Monitoring the embeddedness of returnees', Ms. Maaike Derksen, CIDIN Nijmegen & AMIDst UvA Amsterdam, Jan. 2008.
Contact
Santje Geuze 030-7551580, s.geuze@maatwerkbijterugkeer.nl