Sierra Leone has suffered from a devastating 11-year civil conflict that has profoundly disrupted the lives of virtually every family. The conflict has brought untold suffering to the civilian population and destroyed their livelihoods.

ActionAid’s work in Sierra Leone supports communities affected by the war through improving the access to food, educational facilities, shelter, water and sanitation facilities and health education for poor and marginalised people.

A major problem is the rehabilitation of young people including ex-combatants. These constitute a major part of the available post-conflict labour force but often don’t have access to livelihoods. To alleviate the problem ActionAid has implemented an apprenticeship training programme in the Kono district.

This initiative has given over 300 youths affected by the conflict an opportunity to earn a living with new skills in masonry, carpentry and brick laying, which they put into practice by constructing community shelters. Many of the beneficiaries of this project are ex-combatants and ActionAid’s work helps them re-integrate into society, live in peaceful co-existence with the community and hopefully stay away from conflict.