Organizational Profile of CADS Sierra Leone

May PEACE Prevail in Sierra Leone!
May PEACE Prevail on Earth!

Chad Simmons, American from Wisconsin, Volunteers in Sierra Leone from January through April 2002

Volunteers for Humanity fosters the great desire to learn more about Sierra Leone, and her culture, with a serious intent to discover her way of life. The project builds personal and institutional relationships. It breaks barriers, promotes dialogue and learning, and enhances mutual understanding between Sierra Leone and the people of other countries.

Summary of Personal Information of Chad Simmons:

First Name: Chad
Middle Name: Bethel
Last Name: Simmons
Nationality: United States of America
Date of Birth: 22 Sep 1973
Sex: M
Place of Birth: Wisconsin, U.S.A.

If Employed: Irvin L. Young Auditorium, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

How Chad Simmons Came About to Volunteer in Sierra Leone as a Guest of CADS Sierra Leone!

Where did you hear about CADS Sierra Leone? The Official Sierra Leone Website Under NGOs.

Chad Simmons, the American volunteer, pouring libation after the meeting with the Songo community in February, 2002.

Have you ever Volunteered Before: YES

If Yes, please give a short Description of what you have done and have found Interesting. - Grassroots presidential campaign (2000) - University campus cleanup (98-2001)

Types of Organizations of Interest: Children's welfare, arts and culture, education, environment, health and human services.

People You Wish to Assist: Children, Youth, Adults, Elderly.

Areas of Interest: Directly helping people; Mentor or Role Model; Advocacy; Communications/Journalism/Public relations/Organizer, Coordinator/Donation Drive/Homeless/Training, Facilitator.

Volunteering in Sierra Leone will help you simplify your life, strengthen you spiritually and concretize your commitment to peace and justice.You will have the opportunity to lend a hand to a people who are working to reconstruct and rehabilitate their communities destroyed by years of civil war.

General Tips Given to Chad Simmons: Bring along a camera and/or video camera so that you will be able to reflect upon and record your experiences. Prepare yourself mentally. Expect the unexpected! You should prepare yourself to be tolerant of uncomfortable bus trips and food you cannot recognize. Be ready to learn about and observe differences without being judgmental. The differences you observe while in Sierra Leone will undoubtedly enrich your understanding of your own culture. CADS staff will help you learn as much as possible about Sierra Leonean customs, beliefs and language. You may also find it helpful to educate your friends and family about Sierra Leone and what it is you will be doing in Sierra Leone, so that they can be advocates for your work in Sierra Leone. CADS staff will provide you with a strong support system to help you get through challenges of living in an unfamiliar environment far from home.

Airport of Arrival: Lungi International Airport, Freetown - Sierra Leone. Officials of CADS Sierra Leone -- Mr. Brima Wagen, National Coordinator, and Mr. Ingham B. Carew, Agricultural Projects Coordinator will be meeting you at Lungi International Airport. Because of late arrival at Lungi International Airport, you will be checked into a hotel at Lungi. Trip to Freetown city itself will be the following day, involves a ferry crossing (a 30 minutes experience).

Your Official Residence in Freetown: 4 Rasmusson Street Brookfields Sierra Leone

Office of CADS Sierra Leone: 61 Sackville Street PMB 1290 Freetown

Office of the Supreme Advisor of CADS Sierra Leone Program (also Minister of Labor and Industrial Relations: -- Hon. Alpha O. Timbo The Ministry of Labor and Industrial Relations New England Freetown, Sierra Leone

Office of CCDEO (in partnership with CADS Sierra Leone): Freetown Sierra Leone

Official telephone lines will be: (232 22) 224839 and (232 22) 225051

Chad Simmons, the International Volunteer from the United States working with CADS Sierra Leone, speaking about community issues in the Songo Community, at Koya Rural.

Three Months Program of Volunteering

Orientation -- Conducted by CADS Officials:

--Briefing about general volunteering agenda
-- Knowing the Currency - The Leone Vs. the US Dollar
-- Watching recorded documentaries of the War in Sierra Leone
-- Reassurances about the Security Situation

Working Visits:

-- The Ministry of Labor and Industrial Relations n The Ministry of Development and Economic Planning
-- The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Environment
-- The National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights
-- The United Nations Development Program
-- The Food and Agriculture Program of the United Nations
-- The Sierra Leone Museum
-- The National Commission for Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (NCRRR)
-- The National Commission for the Consolidation of Peace
-- The Ministry of Youth, Education and Sports
-- The Commission for the Consolidation of Peace (CCP) -- Reconstruction of Civil Society in Sierra Leone, and Promotion of Peace and Non-Violence: Supporting Human Rights Efforts.

Projects to Volunteer:
To work at Gbonkolenken Chiefdom in the Tonkolil District:

-- Meetings and getting involved in projects undertaken by the Paramount Chief and Chiefdom Elders. For example you can help with farm work, constructing a school or clinic, helping renovate a Church, teaching English, etc.

-- Meetings and working with the following associations affiliated to CADS Sierra Leone:

YELE TOWN CENTER

1. Tabompaneh Agricultural Farmer's Association
2. Rochain Makowo Bana Agricultural Development project
3. Tabuloh Farmers Association
4. Patifu Farmers Association
5. Hermakono Farmer's Association
6. Robonka Agric. Development Association
7. Tawopaneh Farmer's Association
8. Sankomnoh Farmer's Association
9. Kofi Annan Farmer's Association
10. Madina Kofi Annan Farmer's Association
11. Tataisumpa Farmer's Association
12. Wapla Agric. Dev. Association
13. Forthaneh Farmer's Association
14. Magbanth-neh Farmer's Association
15. Rolemray Farmers' Association
16. Kofi Annan Youth Bureau
17. Namusa Agric. Development Association
18. Takililoh Farmers' Association
19. Gbonkolenken Trader's Dev. Association
20. kanikay Farmer's Association
21. Sakomah Farmer's Association
22. Kofi Annan Women's Association
23. Rosint Farmer's Association
24. Gbonkolenken Community Development Association

MAYEPPOH CENTER

1. Community Development Foundation
2. Masera Farmer's Association
3. Sarakumah Agricultural Association
4. Maloxpeni Farmers' Association
5. Makera Thombo Farmer's Association
6. Rom-Mayonta Farmer's Association
7. Na-Yiemah Agricultural Farmer's Association
8. Masaranda Farmer's Association

MANSUMANA - CENTER

1. Yeaben Farmer's Association
2. Masorie Seki Farmer's Association
3. Balma Farmer's Association
4. Kamuyu Farmer's Association
5. Tafa Balen Farmer's Association
6. Bambarbarr Farmer's Association
7. Bando Poli Farmer's Association
8. To-Maryor Farmer's Association

WARRIMA CENTER

1. Maberoh Farmers Association
2. Makomp Farmers Association
3. Korr-Thamba Farmers Association
4. Gbonkolenken Women's Development Association
5. Tamaraneh Agricultural Development Farmers Association
6. Young Women Community Development Association

These local farm communities you will be meeting have identified the needs within their own communities and the appropriate roles you can play in helping them addressing these needs. To be effective you are encouraged to work in solidarity with members of these host communities, helping to carry out their objectives, offering advise when asked and encouraging them in their work. The communities can benefit from your skills, labor, education, financial and material contributions and your continued support once you return home.

But one of the most important roles you will play is that of a motivator just by having come from so far and away to lend a hand. You will be a positive presence in these farm communities you will be working, a source of inspiration and empowerment. Once you are there working in these farm communities, please take stock of your actions and contributions. Is the help and advise you are offering appropriate and respectful of the local people and culture? Is it inclusive and empowering? Etc.

Labor work at all Seed Multiplication and Demonstration Farms of CADS Sierra Leone

-- Brushing
-- Digging
-- Planting
-- Applying fertilizers
-- Promotion of sustainable agriculture Help Analyze data on survey conducted in December 2001
-- To improve on the CFS project proposal. Develop notable fundraising strategies and participate in fundraising by drafting and mailing out fundraising letters nationally and internationally.
-- To raise funds to support CADS CFS Seeds Multiplication Farms
-- To also raise funds to finance the planned First National Conference on Personal Values, Integrity, Honesty and Patriotism.

Teaching at Kofi Annan Primary Schools

-- English
-- Social Sciences

Visit proposed Kofi Annan Technical/Vocational Training Center

Meetings with CADS/KADEF-SL/CCDEO Communities at Rogborroh, Malaisoko and Makambie villages at lower Koya chiefdom-Port Loko District. Meetings with Matopie Association at Yonni Chiefdom Tonkolili District.

April 4, 2002: Keynote Presentation at the First National Conference on Personal Values, Integrity, Honesty and Patriotism in Sierra Leone. Theme of Presentation: Patriotism and the Survival of a Nation - The American Experience in the Wake of the September 11 Terror Attacks.

-- Awakening Sierra Leone to the kind of patriotism the world has seen among Americans when their way of life is challenged, and how this kind of patriotism can be adopted by Sierra Leoneans to save their way of life and the survival of their nation.
-- It has been heartwarming to see all of the national support the Americans enjoyed from out of something as horrific as the events of September 11th. It's something truly amazing - a growing sense of patriotism in America not felt for decades. Americans must be proud to be Americans. Americans of ALL nationalities and religious or cultural foundations. A country of acceptance and freedom, spanning the masses no matter one's individual appearance. And they must be really proud of who they are and what they have accomplished to help make peace and freedom a GLOBAL mission. The outpouring of sentiment among themselves, and the blood and financial donations they shared among themselves have just reaffirmed this fact, showing that they all stand united to make the United States the GREATEST nation in planet Earth today.

Radio, TV and Newspaper Publicity

-- Interviews n At the end of your volunteering you have to prepare an article detailing your experience as a volunteer in Sierra Leone for publication in local and international journals.

Tourist Attractions

-- Lumley Beach - Aberdeen Entertainment Complex
-- Sussex/Bawbaw Communities n Cotton Club - Sussex

To Contact Us About our Volunteering Opportunities, Send Us an Email at: CadsIntlPrograms@aol.com or Call Our CADS Global Network -- USA Office at:
1-720-351-5520 or Our CADS Sierra Leone Headquarters at (232 22) 225051.