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

CADS Values Cooperation with Organizations and Individuals with Similar Objectives!

While preparing the 2000 - 2001 Annual Report, the trustees and coordinators of the Center for Alternative Development Strategies (CADS) Sierra Leone and its Global Network considered an overarching concept - a concept that would, while embracing the overriding goal to implement its specific programs to improve the lot of our country, strive to suggest to a broad range of NGOs in Africa to work together for the sustainable peace and development of Africa. From these considerations of the trustees and coordinators of the CADS program emerged the theme "Dialogue on the Future of Africa: Alternative Development Strategies for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa".

We have focussed on the infinite capacity of Africa, that Africa has the human and natural resource to lift herself out of poverty into a life of peace, prosperity and dignity. In this very moment of our continent's history, this assertion truly reveals the question that should be exercising the minds of well meaning Africans to come up with strategies on how to get out of this penury trap of disease, poverty and wars the continent is deeply fraught with. In spite of the availability of resources both human and natural our continent has not registered the necessary economic growth that would ensure peace and stability. The little infrastructure left behind by the colonial masters after years of systematic exploitation of Africa's natural affluence, has been completely destroyed by civil unrest as evidenced in countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Angola, Congo Brazzaville, Congo D.R., etc.

It's obvious to the trustees and coordinators of CADS Sierra Leone that, well meaning Africans and friends of Africa have contemplated on various alternative strategies to foster development in Africa. Some are claiming compensation for the inhumanity perpetrated by the slave trade which to them has permanently affected the African's attitude toward development. Some are claiming compensation for the exploitation of colonialism. That, the colonialists grossly exploited Africa's natural resources to extremes that the continent has found it impossible to run itself even after independence in many parts of Africa over three decades ago.

Or, perhaps the compensation we should be talking about is for the North countries to agree to help Africa with a Marshall Plan to better address the consequences of disease, poverty and ignorance rapidly destroying a continent and its people. A Plan capable of ending the grievous cycle of rebel wars and the inhuman atrocities grossly preying on the continent and its people.

However, as we have spent nearly ten years in earnest striving to improve the lot of our country through our CADS agenda, we have pondered and scrutinized the actions of our people, and we are confident we now have alternative development strategies NGOs in Africa should consider for the peace and sustainable development of the continent. Our proposal is for All Africa to endorse ADS Agenda 2002. And to mark the launch of this ADS Agenda 2002, NGOs in Africa should consider implementing grand scale projects derived from the systematic analysis of development policies and programs based upon the research and development experiences of CADS Sierra Leone which has led to the mapping out of these appropriate strategies and implementation framework. We are therefore seeking collaboration with institutions like yours that initiates, supports, and pursues research into rural communities, as we hope to also share our research and development experiences, our vision for the future of Africa, which will be relevant to the world as a whole.

We hope you will consider working with us, especially having us participate in any of your conferences or seminars in future so that we could better disseminate and discuss our research and development successes.

Our Contact Details:

CADS SIERRA LEONE HEADQUARTERS:
61 Sackville Street
PMB 1290
Freetown -- Sierra Leone
West Africa

Tel: (232 22) 225051
Fax: (232 22) 224439
Email: cadssaleone@hotmail.com

CADS GLOBAL NETWORK -- USA OFFICE:
1361 S. Irving St.
Denver, CO 80219
United States of America

Tel: 1 - 720 351 5520
Fax: 1 - 303 937 3798
Email: CadsIntlPrograms@aol.com

CADS Prayer for Sierra Leone

May the voice of the people of Sierra Leone speak louder than the voice of violence in all cities, towns and villages.

May the victims of violence, their families and neighbors, those who have inflicted violence, their families and neighbors, and all families and neighborhoods experience healing and reconciliation.

May our homes be places of sanctuary and nurture, may our schools be places of knowledge and growing self awareness, may our places of work be filled with mutual honor and respect.

May our places of worship be open and willing to help all in need and may our streets be safe and filled with caring neighbors.

May the wounds of tribal, economic, class, age, gender and geographic divisions be healed by opening our hearts to listen to truth on all sides, allowing us to find a higher truth that includes all.

May our leaders embody courage, compassion, and a higher version to inspire each other with our potential as individuals and as a country that new spirit of forgiveness, caring and honesty is born in this year,
in this place.

The Constitution of the Center for Alternative Development Strategies
CADS Sierra Leone Program

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