walkingDemocracy is an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities to work and walk in democracy.
The Development Challenge: After 25 years of poor governance under one-party rule followed by an 11-year brutal civil war which ended in 2002, Sierra Leone is now on a steady but difficult path to recovery. Although regional instability continues, Sierra Leone itself has move toward peace and development thanks to a United Nations (U.N.) Peacekeeping Force and a substantial international investment in returning Sierra Leone to a peaceful, stable and self-sufficient country. Today's peace and stability are fragile, but the outlook is optimistic. Sierra Leone's future lies in maintaining the momentum toward positive development and ensuring the sound management of its substantial mineral, agricultural and fishery resources. For this to happen, better democratic performance on the part of Sierra Leonean leadership must prevail.
Over the decade, we have witnessed a score of countries in Africa making transitions to democracy. Many African countries now exercise multi-party elections on a regular basis. Civil wars in West and Central Africa have ended, and efforts to build democratic societies in regions are multiplying. And, in 2007, the African Union adopted an important new document, the Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
Looking at Sierra Leone: However, these transitions face great challenges. Political violence against citizens continues after the transitions. Lives of independent journalists are threatened. Civil society groups cannot carry out their work freely due to political and legal barriers. Traditional societies/groups create fear and panic among citizens. Leaders and members of opposition parties in many countries are still severely harassed and intimidated. Corruption continues to be one of the largest obstacles for Africa’s democratic consolidation and economic development. We pay tribute to those brothers, sisters, and friends who have paid with their lives in our long continuing struggles to develop democracy on our continent. We must strive to create a new kind of politics that is violent free, we must encourage young people to work and walk in democracy because in 90 per cent are the victims and perpetrators.
I have been involving in politics for years and I have also seen the violence before, on election’s day and after the transsition what it is like to be on the loosing side. it is against this background that walkingDemocracy inspires, inform and involve young people in creating a new kind of politics that is violent free.
Ibrahim Ibou Koroma was Founder/Executive Director for the World Conference on Children for Peace, WCCP. a Not- For- Profit (NFT) organisation and he also serve as Vice President for the National Youth Coalition and President for Youth Leadership Council Sierra Leone.
Ibrahim has traning experience and personal commitment in bringing people together in peacebuilding and leadership building activities. he facilitated several workshops and explore peacebuilding through children. He co-founded the Children for Peace (C4P) awareness club in 20 schools in Freetown was successfully 50 more school in Sierra Leone by the fall of August 2003.
Ibrahim is doing Bsc in Business with concentration on Information System at the Kaplan University, and also working on a project that will involve young people and stake holders in Sierra Leone from all works of life to create a new kind of politics that is violent free and WORK/WALK IN DEMOCRACY.
