I heard a rumor yesterday about the national cleaning day I mentioned a few days ago. According to an unnamed source, not that you would have any clue who it was anyway, a Belgian group provided the Sierra Leonean government with a large sum of money to help clean up the city. The money was allegedly misused. With a pending visit of individuals representing the Belgian group, the government needed to do something to convince them that the funds had been utilized according to their intended purpose. The national cleaning day was allegedly instituted to accomplish this goal.
Is the rumor true? Who knows? I don't necessarily give it too much credit, but its mere existence is indicative of how the average Sierra Leonean views the government. There is so much corruption that every action is seen through the filter of "I wonder where the money really went?" In the U.S. there might be an investigative news story or even a congressional hearing, but here there will only be accusations passed on by word of mouth. The "story" may be printed in one of the many daily newspapers, but, unlike in more familiar places, there is almost no trust in the media here. Lies and corruption are as abundant in the media as they are in the government … at least that is the impression.
Accompanying the filter is a sense of hopelessness. There is no hope for a hearing or truthful, trustworthy media report. There is little hope for justice in this land where injustice is rampant. And it is hope that I feel is vital to rebuilding this country. You cannot demand hope of someone; it must rise up from within him. Only then will a person have the sustained strength to work for desired changes.
We're trying to instill such hope in the young adults of the Lighthouse program and the kids that come to the Kroo Bay GNC. We want them to know that they have worth and are valued. They are created in the image of the all-powerful God. For this reason alone, they are of immense value that cannot be taken away. There is hope for them. The road will not be easy or short, but there is hope that they will be able to live rich lives outside poverty.
