Introduction

There was a very big war in thecountry of Sierra Leone. It started in 1991 and lasted for 10 long years. Everyone in the country suffered, and many people – including many children–lost their lives. Many who survived the war lost their loved ones, their homes and their belongings. Everywhere there was grief, and children were crying.

“Let us sign a peace agreement,” the people said, “Together we can create a better and more peaceful future.” All the people of the country came together and agreed to live in peace. Nobody wanted another war, especially the children. But how could they make sure that the war would not return? “We will create a Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” the people said.

“What is a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and what will it do?” the children asked.

The wise men and women of Sierra Leone answered, “The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a group of people who will come together to learn the truth about the war in Sierra Leone. Some will come from other countries but mostly they will come from Sierra Leone. They will travel to villages and visit people in all the districts of the country. “They will speak to people everywhere, including children, and they will collect hundreds and thousands of stories about what happened. The people who suffered, and those who caused suffering, will tell their stories. The stories will be collected, and together they will become part of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”

“We do not understand,” the children said. One of the wise men said, “If the children do not understand, it would not be proper to continue. They have suffered most during the war and they are the future of our country.” “I will explain, so that they will understand,” said one of the wise women.
She gathered the children around her and began to explain. “Each person’s story is part of the truth,” she said. “Each story is like a piece of a very large puzzle. Nobody can tell the truth alone. At first, when you collect the stories from many different people, it is only a jumble of separate pieces. But when the pieces are arranged together and put into place, then thewhole picture can be seen. Do you understand?” she asked.

“Yes,” the children said. She continued, “Just imagine that every one of us carries in our pocket one small treasure. Each treasure is a special size and shape and colour. It might be a memory or a piece of cloth or a fallen star. Or it might be the fragment of a broken heart. That is our very own story to tell. It will be most precious, and it may be very painful to recall. “Only when we collect the stories together will we begin to see the whole truth, which is as vast and infinite as the night sky. If we study the truth very carefully, we will come to understand each other, and we will come to understand what happened in our country.”

“How will all these stories prevent another war?” the children asked. The wise woman said, “Once the stories are all collected together in one place –in one book – then we will share the book for everyone to read. We will be able to understand what happened and what went wrong. We will learn from the story how to make sure that the war never happens again.”

The children felt sad, and they began to cry. “What will happen to the people who tell their stories?” they asked. “They may learn to forgive each other,” the wise woman said. “When all has been told, we will work together to repair the wrong and to build a just and fair future. Together we will create a vision for a peaceful Sierra Leone.” “When all has been told, we will work together to repair the wrong and to build a just and fair future. Together we will create a vision for a peaceful Sierra Leone.”

“But wait,” the children said. “Don’t forget about us. We don’t want to be left out. We want to tell our stories too. We want our stories about the war to become part of the future of our country,” they said. “Yes,” the wise woman said. “We will not and cannot forget you! We have made a special place in this book for the children of Sierra Leone. We will collect many stories from you. And something more, we will make a very special book just for children so that you will understand what happened to you, and you will not forget that the war took place. That way you may also learn to forgive and you will promise never ever to go to war again. You will always uphold peace in your land.

” The children nodded to show that they understood and, one by one, they began to tell their stories.

“When all has been told,we will work together to repair the wrong and to build a just and fair future. Together we will create a vision for a peaceful Sierra Leone.” Child