Background

Hope-Sierra Leone (H-SL) started in 1999 as an idea and a conviction of one Sierra Leonean. As a refugee in Denmark, John Bangura experienced a remarkable personal transformation. The hatred deep inside him gave way to a passionate love for his country.

From his home in Denmark he challenged others living in Sierra Leone to accompany him on a journey of healing and hope, and Hope-Sierra Leone was born. Since 2001 John has returned to Sierra Leone on many occasions. During the earlier visits John often risked his own safety as he tried to reconcile leaders of the various factions that had fought in the war. H-SL started a ‘peace and reconciliation’ farm bringing together ex-combatants and members of the local community.

In 2003, some Danish friends of John Bangura formed the Denmark-Sierra Leone Friendship Association. This has given major support to H-SL as it has struggled to build its capacity in response to the increasing demands being made on it.

Through its affiliation to IofC-International, H-SL has been able to bring major stakeholders in the post-conflict reconstruction process to ‘Agenda for Reconciliation’ conferences in Caux, Switzerland – the international conference centre of Initiatives of Change.

In response to an invitation from senior police and army personnel for training in character building/human development, an international IofC faculty from Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Ghana, USA and UK facilitated a ‘Moral Foundations for Democracy’ (MFD) programme in 2005. This is a tripartite course for the police, armed forces and civil society. The programme is now being carried out by Sierra Leonean trainers.

In 2008 H-SL started an 18-month Post-Elections Media and Governance project in two important Districts.

The involvement of Hope-Sierra Leone in the Symbolic Reparations Programme would never have happened without the personal transformation of one person, John Bangura, more than 12 years ago. An excellent account of John’s dramatic change, the founding of Hope-Sierra Leone and the events that followed, can be found in Michael Henderson’s new book No Enemy to Conquer: forgiveness in an unforgiving world (Baylor University Press; ISBN 978-1-60258-140-1). Please click here to access this story.

For further information see Hope-Sierra Leone website