Kaningo is in the western area of Freetown with an estimated population of about 10,000 people. 60% of them are youth and 30% of the youth are not attending school nor in any job-training scheme. They resort to gambling, robbery or serve as unskilled labourers. A CESO study of the Kaningo community revealed that they are faced with numerous developmental problems such as education, poverty, recreation, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and other reproductive health issues. Notwithstanding these challenges, access to sporting activities and youth friendly services in Kaningo remain a far-fetched dream. This project will be a pilot intervention designed to assess the effectiveness of selected strategies, inextricably combined in order to increase access to and utilisation of educational, recreational and sporting activities in the Kaningo community. CESO is currently organising football and athletics competitions for in and out of school youths in the community and it environs. These activities will bring young people together and will serve as publicity to sensitise the youth to exercise patience in life and bring them together so they can feel responsibility within society. Overall objectives of the project are to promote participation of young people in community development and in the identification, development and management of programmes that affect them. There is also a need to increase young people’s access to comprehensive sporting activities, youth friendly and gender sensitive information in Kaningo

Who is the sponsoring organization?

Community Empowerment Support Organisation (CESO). CESO was founded by Rita Edmond of London Metropolitan University. It aims to reach out to under privileged communities in the area of Kaningo, Freetown an area where many rural people from the provinces fled during the recent civil war. CESOs goal is to empower these disparate communities, by engaging them in group/community activities, allowing them to feel part of a community and develop their own sense of identity and independence during a time of post conflict uncertainty. http://www.ivorleighschool.org/

Where will the project be located?

Kaningo, Freetown.. Kaningo is a newly created settlement in hills of the greater freetown district. It is largely comprised of several different rural commmunities who fled to its hills, seeking refuge from the civil war in the mid 1990s. Still largely unrecognised by the government, it has little to no infrastructure, i.e. roads, drains, electricity and the communities have relied upon charitable donations to maintain any standard of living. Those more affluent have set up spaces where children can learn and play.

Do facilities at the location need to be constructed or upgraded?

Yes. A small site has been procured by CESO for construction of an indoor games centre, where children through playing board games and indoor sports will learn to relate and communicate effectively with others. An adjacent site for outdoor activity is presently being investigated, hoping that this small area may become a beacon to surrounding communities for grass roots development opportunities.

Are any further architectural or design services required?

Yes. Currently two volunteer architecture graduates from London Metropolitan University have offered their services and experience of working in developing countries to assist the community to design their own sports facility, ensuring its longevity and ownership. Collaborative design partners are potentially being sought to assist.

Would this project benefit from the assistance of construction professionals?

Yes. At present no professionals have been consulted due to the lack of funding. There are however, a huge number of uncertified tradesmen in the local area that are a bountiful resource of local construction knowledge. Utilising their skills would come at next to no cost, additionally allowing them to participate in the construction of part of their own community.