Update From PEN Secretariat
By Allieu S.H. Kamara
International PEN, Sierra Leone chapter, is ever determined to achieve its goal in the country.
May 13th this year marks the center’s fifth year in existence.
Over the years, the PEN centre has created a channel of communication for published and unpublished writers to express their interests and seek advice on all aspects of writing and publishing.
The centre continues to promote Sierra Leonean writers and literature. It is striving to enhance the culture of reading and writing especially among the young.
Since its establishment on May 13th 2003, our PEN Centre has undertaken several literary activities including literary training workshops, writing competitions and advocacy for freedom of expression in the media. We also continue to expand the school clubs project across the country.
The country’s first National Writers Award Ceremony was held in 2005 when 14 writers were presented with plaques.
The Talabi Aisie Lucan writers workshop which is named in honour of an accomplished and distinguished Sierra Leonean woman writer has become an annual event. Every year, the Sierra Leone PEN with support from the United States Embassy organises a writers workshop.
The first National Short Story Competition was held in February last year. The Centre in collaboration with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) conducted the second annual Essay, Poetry and Art Competition in April as part of the activities in celebration of the 39th anniversary of World Earth Day. Attractive prizes are always awarded to the winners of these writing competitions.
Local publishing is one of our main objectives. We have already established links with the regional publishing outfit African Publishing
Network (APNET). Our aim is to set up a local publishing house that could promote Sierra Leone literature.
Meanwhile, PEN Sierra Leone had launched the Book of Voices in London in collaboration with the Flame Book Publishers in 2006. The centre has also published three editions of its literary magazine, the PEN Point which is a major publication of the centre.
The Centre has seen some changes in its organizational development and activities beginning last year. Through the support of the International PEN, The Sierra Leone chapter conducted the Induction/ Strategic Planning Workshop on December 3rd 2007. The essence of the workshop was to consolidate its members to work together to develop and implement a long term plan for the centre. During the workshop, members were identified who would be in the different standing committees of International PEN and the Sierra Leone chapter to make the latter viable.
Our current activities include the expansion of the PEN school clubs. Also supported by PEN International, the goal of the project is to increase PEN membership and promote interest in reading and writing among school children in the regions across the country. The number of the Sierra Leone PEN school clubs has now increased to eleven.
The first five pilot school clubs in the Western Area are the Annie Walsh Memorial School (AWMS), Freetown Secondary School for Girls FSSG), St. Edwards Secondary School, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School (AMSS) and the Methodist
Boys
High School (MBHS). This pilot project was supported by the Christian Literature Crusade (CLC).The six new PEN school clubs in the regions are as follows:
Our lady of Guadalupe
Secondary School in Lunsar, Port Loko District, the St. Francis Secondary School in Makeni, Bombali District, all in the Northern Province; the Koidu Girls Secondary school in Kono, Kono District, Government Secondary School Kenema, in the Eastern Province and the Government Secondary School Bo, (Bo School) and the Harford Secondary School for Girls in Moyamba District in the Southern province.PEN Sierra Leone has a very good working relationship with both the civil society organizations, foreign mission and the government.
As most of the centre’s programmes are funded by donors its main challenge is how to be self sustaining. We want to build the capacity
of the centre. We want to set up an internet café and desktop publishing services to generate income. We are also interested in opening bookshops in Freetown and the provinces. We therefore encourage members to enhance our collective efforts in the pursuance of our mission, according to the following commitment:
“I commit to serving PEN (Sierra Leone) diligently, selflessly,
steadfastly and conscientiously in various capacities within my competence in order to enhance its viability, effectiveness and growth.”
read by both old and new members during the Sierra Leone PEN Strategic Planning Workshop successfully conducted in
Freetown in December, 2007 at the Grassroots Gender Empowerment Movement (GGEM), 57 John Street, Freetown YOU ALSO COULD COMMIT YOURSELF TO ENHANCE PEN WORK HERE
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