Throughout the Spring 2025 holidays, twelve graduated and undergraduate college students of the College of Diplomacy and Worldwide Relations of Seton Corridor traveled to Sierra Leone in Western Africa on a examine journey overseas led by Professor Fredline M’Cormack-Hale, Ph.D. The scholars spent 9 days within the nation on an academic tour directed by the Sierra Leone go to (VSL Journey) and the ABDULAI SANKOH tour information.
Earlier than its journey, the category spent six weeks on the Sierra Leone Seminar: exploring postwar reconstruction taught by M’Cormack-Hale, discussing the idea and follow of the reconstruction of the establishments to strengthen societies which have suffered conflicts and consider the strengths and deficiencies of assorted interventions, utilizing Sierra Leone as a case examine. Twenty years after a brutal civil struggle, Sierra Leone has develop into a mannequin for the restoration and profitable submit -war growth utilizing liberal consolidation approaches to peace, integrating the function of worldwide actors and rural actors within the reconstruction and help of establishments and governance after the battle.
Upon arriving within the nation on March 1, the scholars spent the night time within the Tariq complicated within the Lungi Peninsula within the province of Northwest. When awakening early the subsequent day, the group visited the reminiscence and repairs middle, which facilitates the reminiscence and collective narratives across the Sierra Leone Civil Conflict, the place they met Joseph Ben Kaifala, the founding father of the reminiscence mission. After this go to, they obtained a tour of Bunce Island, the biggest British slave fortress on the Rice coast of Western Africa earlier than the British Parliament closed it in 1808, and Tasso Island for lunch. After lunch, the group caught a ship to Freetown, the place they got a historic tour that highlighted iconic websites: San Jorge Cathedral, rhythm monument, Maroon Church, Cotton Tree, Previous Fourah Bay Faculty (the primary western -style College in Western Africa) and the railway museum.
Originally of the second full day, the group attended a Teddy Fody-Musa convention, a professor on the College of Sierra Leone Fourah Bay Faculty, the Division of Peace Research and Conflicts, then discusses with college college students in regards to the state of Sierra Leone and if there have been any lesson from america. After a tour of the campus, the scholars went to the Workplace of the Authorities Reform Institute (IGR), the place they heard of 4 native civil society organizations: Middle for Duty and Rule of Regulation (CARL), Funds Protection Community (BAN), IGR and Group 50/50. The group concluded its day in Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, based in 1995 by Balaasekaran to implement wildlife and rescue and rehabilitate orphaned western chimpanzees in vital hazard that was once maintained as pets or sought meat.
The third day, the scholars have been invited to the Eire Embassy in Freetown, the place they met with the Irish ambassador to Sierra Leone, Aidan Fitzpatrick, and had a dialogue with him and his employees in regards to the function of Irish assist in Sierra Leone. After visiting Irish Support, they went to Sierra Leone of the Peace Corps, the place they met with a number of volunteers, in addition to the director of nations, Tim Miller, and director of Coaching and Programming of Aleya Horn Kennedy, listening on initiatives prioritized domestically within the schooling and well being sectors and what’s wanted to be a volunteer of Peace Corp. The final assembly of the day was within the residence of the British Fee She realized about commissioner herself, Josephine Gauld, and her employees in regards to the British mission within the nation and her work with the federal government. The group ended the day stress-free in River No. 2 Seaside.
On day 4 consisted of the scholars touring to the Kambia district, visiting the Sierra-Leone-Guniea border earlier than assembly with the ladies who work with the solidarity group of the Ladies’s Neighborhood.
The 5 of the day, the scholars attended the discussion board for dialogue of Excessive Stage Insurance policies in honor of the Worldwide Ladies’s Day, organized by the Ministry of Gender and Affairs of Youngsters in collaboration with the Nationwide Steering Committee of DIW. The audio system at this convention included the president of Group 50/50; Our personal m’Cormack-Hale, Ph.D.; UN Nation UN consultant; the management of the investing staff Salone; the gender advisor on the president’s workplace; the president of the Gender Committee and Youngster Affairs in Parliament; Minister of Social Welfare; Gender Minister and Youngster Affairs; and Ambassador Haja Alari Cole, a extremely established diplomat. On the convention, the scholars attended panels that mentioned a number of points in regards to the empowerment of girls, schooling, rights and extra. After the convention, the scholars went to the UN Home, the place they met with the United Nations Growth Challenge in Sierra Leone.
On day six, the group was invited to the workplace of the Mayor of the Council of the Metropolis of Freetown, the place they heard the mayor’s employees in regards to the subsequent growth initiatives across the metropolis of Freetown.
On day seven, the group returned to the excessive -level political dialogue discussion board, attending the closing ceremony as the varied organizations and officers with whom they met beforehand within the week they introduced the discussion board findings and the plans for the empowerment of girls in Salone.
The scholars spent the final night time of the journey stress-free in Mozza Resort, the place that they had the chance to take part in a bonfire celebrating American music and tradition and Sierra Leone earlier than leaving the nation on Sunday night time, returning at midday at midday in america on March 10.
Classes: Nation and World