February* a pilgrimage, called the Hajj, to the holy city of Mecca Prophet’s Birthday at least once in their lifetime. Islamic holidays include SIERRA LEONE March/April* Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, Easter which commemorates the month in which Muhammad April 27 received the revelations that became the Koran. Eid Independence Day al-Fitr is a joyous feast celebrating the end of Ramadan December 25 and the month of fasting. Al-Hijra celebrates the Islamic Christmas New Year. Animism is the term used to categorize the plethora *date varies of localized indigenous religions throughout the world. Religion in Sierra Leone Animists live in a world dominated by a complex interplay of spiritual powers—those of the creator or 60 percent of the population in Sierra Leone are creators (gods), the destroyers (demons), the forces Muslim. Another 30 percent practice indigenous of nature, the deceased (ancestors), and the living beliefs, and 10 percent are Christian. (healers or witches). The manipulation of such powers through magic, to benefit humans, is subject to strict Muslims are followers of Islam. Islam is an Arabic rules, including rituals, sacrifices, and trance. Animists word meaning “submission to the will of Allah (God).” believe that when people die their life force (soul) leaves Muslims believe that Allah’s will was revealed to the Population 5.9 million the body, joining the invisible world of ancestors. The prophet Muhammad more than 14 centuries ago invisible world is also populated by nature spirits of the Capital City Freetown and was captured in the Islamic holy book, the Koran wind, rain, forest, animals, and earth. Official Language English (Qur’an). Together with the Sunnah, a collection of sayings attributed to Muhammad, these texts provide Christians are followers of Jesus, a carpenter and a Per Capita Income US$580/year a firm basis for religious and social life for all Muslims, Jew from the city of Nazareth in present-day Israel. Youth Literacy Rate 70% male/52% female including rules for diet, dress, hygiene, and more. Christians believe that Jesus is the only son of God, born Islam is a religion of peace and prayerfulness. A devout of a virgin woman (Mary) in a stable in Bethlehem. His Access to Safe Water 84% urban/40% rural Muslim prays five times daily. If possible, Muslims pray story is told in the New Testament of the Christian holy Under 5 Mortality Rate 182/1,000 live births in a mosque, and on Friday do so with common prayer book, the Bible. and a sermon. Islam also requires that Muslims make Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF) Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa. In the 15th century, a Portuguese Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. explorer called Pedro de Cintra mapped a mountainous peninsula marking the entrance to a great harbor surrounded with hills that, when viewed from the ocean, looked like Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to a resting lion. Pedro named the lion-like mountain region “Sierra Loya” from which the end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our country derived its name. Beyond the peninsula is a broad plain with wide stripes of low- level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to lying swamps, vast mangrove sandbars, and lagoons. Sierra Leone has a tropical climate come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. marked by two seasons: the rainy season from May to December and the dry season from December to April. Heavy downpours, high precipitation, and occasional thunderstorms Promising Futures, Plan International USA Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 characterize the rainy season, while the dry season is marked by hot, humid, and dry 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org weather. A particularly more severe weather condition is the hamattan, a cold, dry, sand- laden northeast wind that blows from the Sahara Desert between November and February. A Brief History Plan’s work in Sierra Leone focuses The earliest settlers in present-day Sierra Leone were on the following areas: the Limbas, the West Atlantic language group called the Education Temene, and the speakers of the Mende language from Maternal and child health the ancient Empire of Ghana. Freetown, the capital, Youth employment was founded as a settlement for freed slaves. The first slave settlers were black and landed on the Freetown Education Peninsula in 1787. The Nova Scotians, former North Plan’s work in Sierra Leone is centered on education American slaves who fought for the British during the renewal to rebuild and revitalize education facilities. American Revolution, arrived in 1792. The Maroons Aside from supporting teacher training, Plan sets up followed them in 1800 from the mountains of Jamaica. psychosocial trauma, counseling, and peace education The final wave of settlers were the Recaptives. These workshops. For schoolchildren, sports, athletics, and numbered about 70,000 and included a mixture of sector is dominated by subsistence farming, and most being the language spoken by all Sierra Leoneans. It is cultural competitions, as well as the formation of peace West Africans liberated from slave ships captured by the of the cultivable land is exhausted due to poor farming very likely that you will encounter a language barrier clubs, help to engage children outside of formal learning British navy. The Freetown Peninsula became a melting practices. Rice, the staple food, is mostly prepared in communicating with your sponsored child, as the environments. In addition, Plan supports schools and pot for various language groups from which the Krio white and eaten with potato or cassava leaves. Other majority of the children do not know enough English to committees to improve the availability and quality language developed. In 1808, Sierra Leone became a farm produce includes yams, cassava tuber, corn, millet, write a letter. Those who cannot write will be assigned of education and advocates for school designs that British crown colony. The first prime minister following sorghum, and groundnuts. Cash crops include cocoa, to community workers and volunteers who will explain promote active learning. independence in 1961 was Sir Milton Margai, leader of coffee, and palm kernel. The principal source of foreign your letters and help the children compose their the Sierra Leone People’s Party. In 1978, under Siaka exchange in Sierra Leone is mineral exports of bauxite, responses. Stevens’s presidency, Sierra Leone became a republic Maternal and child health rutile, titanium, and others. Here are a few phrases in Krio that you might want and a one-party state. After 18 years in power, Stevens Plan advocates for increased access to health services, to use in your communication with your sponsored transferred power to his handpicked successor, Major fostering partnerships to address health issues such Ethnic Diversity child: General Joseph S. Momoh. In 1991, civil war broke out as malaria, HIV and AIDS, birth registration, and Like most African countries, Sierra Leone’s population Ah du o, how you du? in the eastern part of Sierra Leone. In 1992, the military other critical challenges. As Sierra Leone has one of Hello, how are you? consists of many ethnic groups, each with its own seized power and forced Momoh to flee to neighboring the world’s highest infant mortality rates, with 70 distinct but interrelated culture and language. This How de go dey go? Guinea. In 1996, multiparty elections were conducted, percent of deaths caused by malaria, we are focused on How are things going? unique composition provides a rich tapestry of cultures and the country was returned to civilian rule under the implementing malaria prevention and control projects Tenki ya presidency of Ahmad Tejan Kabba. In 1997, the military skilled in art and craftwork. This diversity of cultures over a five-year period. Thank you once more took control. In February 1998, the West is part of a vast ethnic network extending into several Dem fambul African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, led by Nigeria, countries in West Africa. The largest ethnic groups in Youth employment My regards to the family succeeded in ousting the military and returned Ahmad Sierra Leone are the Temne (north) and the Mende Tejan Kabba to power. In a defiant move, the junta and We promote youth economic and skills-based (south). Together, they comprise about 60 percent of its allies retreated to the interior of the country where empowerment and work to increase youth participation the population. The other prominent groups are the Holidays they instilled fear on the population by killing and and decision-making through formation of youth Limba and the Creole, which comprise 10 percent and 2 Holidays are very important to your sponsored child maiming civilians as well as razing villages and towns. groups. percent of the population, respectively. and family. The most important ones have religious Thousands of people fled their homes. Many children significance: were separated from their parents while others were Language Economic Security January 1 forcefully enlisted into the army. New Year’s Day The primary source of livelihood is agriculture, which Although English is the official language in Sierra Leone, accounts for 49 percent of the country’s GDP. This there are more than 14 other languages, with Krio .