I'll start by explaining a little more about the job and the country.
My role will be working for the Town Council in Makeni. The town is home to over 100,000 people, and like the rest of the country it is still feeling the effects of the civil war that ended in 2001. I will be living with no running water or electricity, so I expect daily life to be a challenge in itself.
The role I am undertaking is Project Planner and Designer, and the main emphasis on the role is leading the development planning for the council through participatory work with the people of the town. (So not much then!) It is a fantastic career move for me and I cant wait to get stuck in.
The role I am undertaking is Project Planner and Designer, and the main emphasis on the role is leading the development planning for the council through participatory work with the people of the town. (So not much then!) It is a fantastic career move for me and I cant wait to get stuck in.
Sierra Leone
So what better place than Sierra Leone? The country is ranked rock bottom of the human development index compiled by the UN (http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/). It is starting to show signs of recovery, and with the war long over, I am confident that I can stay safe and healthy whilst I am there.
I recently met another VSO volunteer, Rabia, who will be working in Makeni with me, and she sent me an email about Sierra Leone, which really makes me question my motives! Here it is:
The poorest country (in the world) is Sierra Leone, a west
African nation about half the size of Illinois that has been marred by violent civil wars, sexual slavery, torture including disfigurement and amputation, conscripting child soldiers - and even cannibalism.
The United Nations names Sierra Leone as the world's “least livable” country, based on its poverty and the poor quality of life that its citizens must endure.
In 2004, Sierra Leone's trade deficit totalled some $350 million, with $185 million of exports (diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish) easily surpassed by $531 million that Sierra Leone paid for imports (foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals).
So Sierra Leone assumes the dubious honour of world's most miserable country to live in.
I recently met another VSO volunteer, Rabia, who will be working in Makeni with me, and she sent me an email about Sierra Leone, which really makes me question my motives! Here it is:
The poorest country (in the world) is Sierra Leone, a west
African nation about half the size of Illinois that has been marred by violent civil wars, sexual slavery, torture including disfigurement and amputation, conscripting child soldiers - and even cannibalism.
The United Nations names Sierra Leone as the world's “least livable” country, based on its poverty and the poor quality of life that its citizens must endure.
In 2004, Sierra Leone's trade deficit totalled some $350 million, with $185 million of exports (diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish) easily surpassed by $531 million that Sierra Leone paid for imports (foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals).
So Sierra Leone assumes the dubious honour of world's most miserable country to live in.
Bring it on! I am looking forward to swapping Newcastle for Makeni, and really hope that I make a difference, in however small a way.
1 comment:
Take Care proud of you,
X Patsy & Dad
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