Positive Music Project – Sierra Leone

As part of this project, in March 2004, iEARN invited Rap4Rights Rappers from the Netherlands to meet with iEarn youth to create music, and explore human rights and peace-building. Project organiser, Rashid Peters, composed "Child Soldiers Have Suffered So Much", the song that led iEARN Sierra Leone's 1999 Child Soldiers campaign. Through his music, Peters made several contributions which were the subject of national broadcast in the Voice of Democracy radio in Sierra Leone after democracy was restored. iEARN musicians have received awards from such organisations as the BBC and have hosted past concerts with attendance of over 800 people. They have had several appearances on radio and stage, in various social gatherings, and have been showcased at the UN Peace Concert in 2005.

In 2005, PMP produced a 13-song album entitled "Moving to the Beats/Mobilising Youth: Salone fo Go Befo." The songs are also simultaneously being featured in a video documentary done by the iEARN Sierra Leone film crew, in collaboration with Talking Drum Studio, entitled "Search For Common Grounds in Freetown". The 13 songs address topics related to HIV/AIDS and the issue of children's rights (child soldiers) and peace. In December 2005, this album was launched to coincide with an international peace concert in which many young artists had been short-listed.


In 2007, PMP launched "Next Next Generation." This album was designed to influence attitudes and bring about positive changes in society. iEARN director, Andrew Benson Greene said the title derives its origin from the 2007 World Bank Global Development Report, in which iEARN played a key role in research and documenting the challenges youth face in gaining employment in Sierra Leone. Produced in collaboration with Woodcraft Folk UK, this collection is composed of songs by Sierra Leonean youth on topics relevant to youth and today's world. The music album emphasises issues of social justice and human rights with song titles such as "Drug Abuse", "Teenage Pregnancy", and "Respect Woman." The album hopes to be a platform for youth to express their views through music to address global issues. The album was released as a commercial venture, with the hope of gaining funds to support the young people’s education.

The organisation has set up a my space page for listeners to hear their music.

Youth, Conflict, Rights

iEARN SL is a non-governmental organisation that serves and rehabilitates youths who have been affected by war. To accomplish this, they have a two-fold mission: to directly rehabilitate Sierra Leonean youths through education and exchanges, and to promote peace education in schools, both in Sierra Leone and all over the world. iEARN SL's rehabilitation programme engages youths in creative writing, music, drama, computer skills and literacy, filmmaking, and fine arts.