Former Child Soldier Ishmael Beah speaks about
"Educating for a Better World and How Jackson Hole Can Get Involved"
Thursday, August 6, 2009.
Center for the Arts in Jackson Hole, WY
Join Ishmael Beah and Board Members from Schools for Salone to learn why they believe in Educating for a Better World.
Schools for Salone (or SfS) is a Seattle-based not-for-profit dedicated to rebuilding schools in Sierra Leone in the wake of a terrible eleven-year civil war. Board members from SfS will share their experiences in Sierra Leone while in the Peace Corps and how they have become so passionate about helping the wonderful people of Sierra Leone.
An estimated 250,000-300,000 children are currently fighting in conflicts around the world."[1] Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. Sierra Leone's civil war broke out when Ishmael was twelve years old. By age thirteen, he was swept up by the government army and forced to fight against the rebels. With help from UNICEF and others, Ishmael recovered from the unimaginable violence he had experienced and was able to pursue his education, finally graduating from Oberlin College. Ishmael Beah is now an active human rights advocate and author of the best-selling book A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. The book is a gripping description of what war looks like from a boy's eyes, and Ishmael Beah's personal path to recovery.
InterConnections 21 (www.ic21.org) is teaming up with Ishmael Beah and the Seattle-based non-profit Schools for Salone (www.schoolsforsalone.org) to raise awareness about the needs of children in conflict-affected areas, and to get the Jackson community involved in helping a community in Sierra Leone. Sembehun, a quiet village in the southern part of the country, is in desperate need of a school with enough classrooms for all of the local children. These children live in a country that is struggling to rebuild in the wake of a terrible civil war and that needs outside support.
The public event on August 6th is an opportunity for Jackson community members to learn more how they can get involved! For $40,000 we can provide Sembehun with the necessary classrooms, books, supplies, teacher training, and teacher salaries for one year as well as a much needed well and water filtration system that will benefit the entire village. We're hoping that this is part of a long-term relationship between Jackson and Sembehun. JH Middle School students are already geared up to become pen pals with students from Sembehun, and there's a possibility that Jackson students and community members can attend the opening ceremony of the school.
The evening begins with a public reception from 6:00-7:00pm when guests have the opportunity to meet Ishmael Beah and enjoy live music by Steam Powered Airplane, a silent auction and light fare--all included in the ticket price. Wine and beer will be available at a cash bar.
Ishmael Beah's presentation will begin at 7:00pm. Following the presentation, World Bank Director of Education for Africa, Christopher Thomas, and Bob Heavner, a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma, will join Mr. Beah for a panel discussion. The evening will conclude with dessert and a book-signing by Ishmael Beah. Copies of A Long Way Gone are on sale at a discounted price at Jackson Hole Book Trader, Main Event and Valley Bookstore. The book will also be available for sale at the event by Valley Bookstore.
All proceeds from the evening will go toward the construction project to build a school and water system in Sembehun. We hope you'll join us in helping Jackson Hole build a school in Sierra Leone!
*Tickets available through the Center for the Arts at 307.733.4900 or online at
https://boxoffice.jhcenterforthearts.org/2000/maxshop.exe?STORE=CFA&PG=99&LINKTO=EVENT_716
[1] According to Amnesty International: http://www.amnestyusa.org/children/child-soldiers/about-child-soldiers/page.do?id=1021176