Background:

Buduburam Refugee Camp was opened by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) near Accra, Ghana for those refugees who fled Liberia during the Liberian Civil War (1989-1996) and Second Liberian Civil War (1999-2003). It is home to more than 35,000 people from Liberia as well as minority populations from Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.

The people living in Buduburam are living in poverty and have experienced extremely traumatic experiences caused by conflict in their native countries. They are still experiencing many hardships as there are little or no employment opportunities for those living in the camp. There is untreated sewage in the street and no running water. Water is brought in by large tanks which then people have to pay money in order to receive. The bathrooms/showers are inadequate and cost money for use, leaving them inaccessible to most people.

The UNHCR started a repatriation program in 2004 which aimed to bring 250,000 refugees back to Liberia. Only 70,000 returned to their native country where 85% of the population is unemployed, education is scarce, and drinking water inaccessible. Many still live at the camp and will continue doing so despite the withdrawal of services provided by the UNHCR this past year.

The Self- Help Initiative for Sustainable Development (SHIFSD) was started in 2000 by three Liberian refugees in attempt to empower people living in the camp. SHIFSD established the only free education in the camp for children ages 8-17 who have never been to school or previously dropped out. The school is an Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) which is a formal education given in a 3-year period instead of 6 years. Students gain education in mathematical and literary skills as well as HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, and care. It is the only free school lunch program in the camp and it is intended to contribute to higher attendance levels and better retention rates among students. The school lunch program is being funded by Africa Aid and is employing mothers of students to cook one meal per day for students. A kitchen is currently being constructed in order to maximize control over meals and enhance capacity for projects on teaching health and nutrition.

Permaculture for Peace:

Permaculture is a term that refers to the design of “permanent agricultural” systems that combine water management, renewable energies, and appropriate technologies to best suit a particular site. It can be applied virtually anywhere as it is a methodology to design a landscape in a way which intertwines traditional wisdom and more recent energy efficient technologies. Permaculture is a fundamental way to restore lands which have been degraded by increasing plant and animal biodiversity and creating managed ecosystems which mimic the natural environment.

The gardens will be created specifically to the piece of land where they are located in order to maximize overall self-sufficiency. This sustainable approach relieves dependency from outside resources while empowering participants with the long term skills necessary for local development.

Permaculture for Peace is a project initiated by Lisa Abregu after completing conflict resolution trainings to child soldiers, SHIFSD members, and others in the spring of 2007 at Buduburam Refugee Camp. Lisa spent 3 months in the camp while completing her Masters Degree in Conflict Resolution at the University of Queensland in Australia. After completing the trainings and working intimately with the people living in the camp, Lisa realized the potential that local food gardens could provide for the free school lunch program. While providing nutritious vegetables, starches, grains and fruits for the lunch program, the gardens will also provide a place for Ghanaians and Liberians to work together, for education on sustainable agriculture, and for conflict resolution and peace building skills.

Anthony Broese and Lauren Cormier will also be designing the gardens and the appropriate water and energy systems on the land. Anthony, Lauren, and Lisa have been certified in Permaculture Design and have worked on sustainable development projects throughout in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa. With diverse academic backgrounds and international experience, the organization members are bringing together community members, farmers, teachers, families, volunteers, and all those who want to contribute to a project that within the next year will be providing the essential necessity of growing nutritious food for refugee children while creating a culture of peace.

The Project:

The construction and installation of the gardens will be carried out with the help of many volunteers who will all be fundamental in sharing knowledge and maintaining the gardens in the future. The parcel of land for the gardens is located a couple of miles outside the camp and is easily accessible to those living in the camp and also to close to the capital city of Accra. Along with SHIFSD, the Australian based NGO Aliamos has graciously helped in assisting with fundraising for this project. Theresa Fischer, a founding member of Aliamos, has been working closely with the project from the inception and will be providing support throughout.

In January of 2008, the construction of the gardens will begin as well as the design for the water and energy systems. Seeds and trees will be bought from local farmers and nurseries that will create a productive piece of land with a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, starches, and grains. Some of the common crops grown in Ghana include yams, cocoa, corn, cassava, plantain, sweet potatoes, cocoyams, chillies, millet, groundnuts, sorghum, rice, peas, beans, peanuts, bananas, and tomatoes. In the future, small animals may also be integrated to provide other foods as well as an on-site source of fertilizer.

Providing a wide diversity of foods for the school lunch program will help definitively with the children’s capacity to retain information and have a better attention span as many recent studies have proven to show. Creating these gardens is therefore very important in the overall education at the ALP and will also serve as an example for other schools to follow. In addition, the gardens will also provide holistic therapy for refugees who have all suffered from traumatic events and loss of loved ones. The gardens will be a place to learn about sustainable agriculture as well as being a therapeutic place where people of all ages can come and heal.

Our Fundraising Goals:

It is necessary to raise $14,500 to cover basic project costs. Project costs include our transportation to Ghana, the cost of the land, supplies/materials for the gardens, and our room and board in the camp. We project that the cost of many materials will be substantially low because they will be bought and/or acquired in Ghana and will act to support local economy. Wherever possible we plan to use salvaged and used materials as well as technologies that are simple and relatively easy to fix. So far we have raised approximately $3,000! Any donation is greatly appreciated. More information can be found online at the SHIFSD website.

Budget:

• Supplies and Land $5000
• Transportation $5000
• Earthworks $1000
• Room and Board $1000
• Miscellaneous/Emergency Fund $1000
• Insurance $1500

Total Budget: $14,500

What You Can Do:

Become a supporting member of Permaculture for Peace

Help Fund Raise for the Project Contact Us

Make a Donation

Donations are tax deductible and can be made out to:

Maine Peace Fund
c/o Permaculture for Peace
PO Box 3842
Portland, ME 04104

Please be sure to write Permaculture for Peace in the Memo of check so that it gets to the appropriate place!

100% of all donations go towards project costs. There are no outside or administrative costs

For additional information or to contact directly:
Email: permaculture4peace [at] gmail [dot] com
Phone: 207-467-1984

Permaculture for Peace Cover Letter