The Mattru Jong ProgramThe Mattru Jong ProgramBy Twenty-First Century African Youth Movement By Twenty-First Century African Youth Movement

(AYM)(AYM)

AYM-SIERRA LEONEAYM-SIERRA LEONE

AYM in BriefAYM in Brief The Twenty-First Century African Youth The Twenty-First Century African Youth

Movement (AYM) was founded by Abu-Movement (AYM) was founded by Abu-Hassan (Askia) Koroma in USA in 1992.Hassan (Askia) Koroma in USA in 1992.

The International Headquarters is The International Headquarters is currently being established in Mattru currently being established in Mattru Jong, Sierra Leone. U.S. serves as the Jong, Sierra Leone. U.S. serves as the International Coordinating Secretariat.International Coordinating Secretariat.

AYM plans to build chapters across AYM plans to build chapters across Africa, utilizing the generosity and Africa, utilizing the generosity and volunteer commitments of young people volunteer commitments of young people around the world – online and offline. around the world – online and offline.

Askia Koroma

International Coordinating International Coordinating Secretariat (U.S.A)Secretariat (U.S.A)

Provides and facilitate online and offline volunteer Provides and facilitate online and offline volunteer mobilization for fundraising and logistical support to the mobilization for fundraising and logistical support to the African programs.African programs.

Destination Africa: Destination Africa: Organize the Annual Youth Organize the Annual Youth Participation and Recognition Conference, Dinner & Dance Participation and Recognition Conference, Dinner & Dance for Service to Africa in Madison, Wisconsin.for Service to Africa in Madison, Wisconsin.

Work with Tour Groups to organize and promote Work with Tour Groups to organize and promote educational and ecological youth travel opportunities to educational and ecological youth travel opportunities to Africa. Africa.

Current Art ExhibitionCurrent Art Exhibition AYM curated a traveling art exhibition by Sierra Leonean AYM curated a traveling art exhibition by Sierra Leonean

artists that has been exhibited at:artists that has been exhibited at:

Porter Butts Gallery, Memorial Union, University of Porter Butts Gallery, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Wisconsin-Madison, February 28 – March 30, 2003 February 28 – March 30, 2003

Art and Cultures Gallery, Alverno College in Milwaukee, Art and Cultures Gallery, Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,Wisconsin, August 18 – September 18, 2004 August 18 – September 18, 2004

VSA Arts of Georgia, AtlantaVSA Arts of Georgia, Atlanta, March 1 – April 22, 2005, March 1 – April 22, 2005

AYM has produced an album by a group of Sierra Leonean AYM has produced an album by a group of Sierra Leonean musical artists called “The Mixing Crew and the Young musical artists called “The Mixing Crew and the Young Sisters.”Sisters.”

For information on these and other AYM programs in the For information on these and other AYM programs in the arts, visit: arts, visit:

http://www.africanartville.aym-inc.org http://www.africanartville.aym-inc.org

AYM A GLANCEAYM A GLANCE Vision:Vision: Stable, Peaceful, Economically self-sustaining

Africa, with hope and opportunities, for its youth in every sphere of life and endeavor.

Mission:Mission: Educate and employ youth in agribusiness, ecotourism, technology, and the creative arts..

Problem:Problem: 60% of Africa’s young women and men, ages 14 to 35 are unemployed, among the highest in in the world. Most youths are living on less than US $2 per day..

Solution:Solution: Create, mobilize and provide employment for Create, mobilize and provide employment for youths in Africa.youths in Africa.

Sierra Leone – 2004 Feasibility StudySierra Leone – 2004 Feasibility Study

In January 2004, AYM Vice President Dennis Glover met with youth leaders in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, and Mattru Jong, assessing the areas of opportunity for youth and community development.

As a result of this feasibility study, AYM targeted two key areas of

opportunity in which to focus its supplementary training programs:

AGRICULTURE and TOURISM.

Sierra Leone - Key Focus AreasSierra Leone - Key Focus Areas ArtArt

AYM utilizes the arts to tell the stories of Africa, and to AYM utilizes the arts to tell the stories of Africa, and to stimulate people’s participation in the renaissance of Africastimulate people’s participation in the renaissance of Africa

AgricultureAgriculture Presently Sierra Leone’s largest import is foodstuffs, and Presently Sierra Leone’s largest import is foodstuffs, and

because of this fact, AYM has determined to utilize the because of this fact, AYM has determined to utilize the country’s abundant unused fertile land and idle youth by country’s abundant unused fertile land and idle youth by organizing several new community farms and gardensorganizing several new community farms and gardens

TourismTourism The tourism industry in Sierra Leone is almost non-existent, yet The tourism industry in Sierra Leone is almost non-existent, yet

Sierra Leone is home to vast natural beauty and has been at Sierra Leone is home to vast natural beauty and has been at peace for over 7 years; therefore, AYM is building programs to peace for over 7 years; therefore, AYM is building programs to support both local and international tourism in Jong Chiefdomsupport both local and international tourism in Jong Chiefdom

Mattru Jong Program Goals:

Create new jobs; Improve local industries and business climate; Involve local community in development initiatives; Create agricultural projects for local food production, consumption and

marketing; Preserve and improve on landmarks in the Jong Chiefdom; Provide supplementary educational programs in communities; Develop and expand creative recreational projects in communities; Develop and promote youth participation in community affairs; Position Mattru Jong as the preeminent Chiefdom for art and culture in

Sierra Leone.

Recruiting New VolunteersRecruiting New Volunteers

Dennis Glover and his local team

visited several schools, youth

groups, chiefs and leaders, churches and mosques, the

general public, and went over the radio to sensitize

people about AYM and

encourage their participation. In

just three months, AYM had

recruited over 250 volunteers.

AYM Agriculture ProgramsAYM Agriculture Programs

Vegetable ProductionVegetable Production Moselleh GardensMoselleh Gardens Georma GardensGeorma Gardens Mobimbi GardensMobimbi Gardens

Future ProjectsFuture Projects Animal HusbandryAnimal Husbandry Fish-FarmingFish-Farming Large-Scale Cassava and Peanuts ProductionLarge-Scale Cassava and Peanuts Production

Moselleh – Building the GardenMoselleh – Building the Garden

December, 2006

March, 2007

May, 2007

Moselleh GardensMoselleh Gardens

Moselleh was the first AYM garden established in Moselleh was the first AYM garden established in Sierra Leone, in December 2006Sierra Leone, in December 2006

Located 1 ½ miles from the AYM Headquarters in Located 1 ½ miles from the AYM Headquarters in Mattru Jong, Moselleh is situated near the waterfalls of Mattru Jong, Moselleh is situated near the waterfalls of the Jong River, and is a site with very fertile landthe Jong River, and is a site with very fertile land

There are 65 volunteers working on the garden, coming There are 65 volunteers working on the garden, coming from Mattru Jong and other surrounding villagesfrom Mattru Jong and other surrounding villages

Moselleh – Building RoadsMoselleh – Building Roads(Left) Sixty volunteers completed the 1½ mile road from Moselleh to Mattru Jong

(Right) Twenty volunteers rebuilt

the ½ mile road from Wulai to Rutile

Highway in 2 months

Moselleh – Building BridgesMoselleh – Building Bridges

Moselleh VegetablesMoselleh Vegetables

Moselleh Gardens Moselleh Gardens Fundraising DanceFundraising Dance

“Back toSchool Jam”

Georma Gardens CreationGeorma Gardens CreationJanuary 21, 2007 March 27, 2007

February 4, 2007 April 17, 2007

Georma Gardens TrainingGeorma Gardens Training

Georma GardensGeorma Gardens Located 18 miles from Mattru Jong, the AYM garden Located 18 miles from Mattru Jong, the AYM garden

in Georma is a combined effort from people in more in Georma is a combined effort from people in more than 10 area villagesthan 10 area villages

Georma was the second AYM garden established in Georma was the second AYM garden established in Sierra Leone, in January 2007Sierra Leone, in January 2007

This is the largest group to date, with over 150 This is the largest group to date, with over 150 volunteers working on the gardenvolunteers working on the garden

Georma Vegetables and HerbsGeorma Vegetables and Herbs

Georma FundraiserGeorma Fundraiser“Georma Jam”

February 17, 2007

Mobimbi Garden TrainingMobimbi Garden Training

Mobimbi GardensMobimbi Gardens

Mobimbi Gardens is located in the Imperi Mobimbi Gardens is located in the Imperi Chiefdom on the Sierra Rutile Limited landChiefdom on the Sierra Rutile Limited land

Mobimbi was the third garden established by Mobimbi was the third garden established by AYM, in February 2007AYM, in February 2007

There are 40 volunteers training at MobimbiThere are 40 volunteers training at Mobimbi

Mobimbi VegetablesMobimbi Vegetables

More Mobimbi VegetablesMore Mobimbi Vegetables

Nursing

Trans-planting

Harvesting

Future Agriculture ProjectsFuture Agriculture Projects Livelihoods: Animal HusbandryLivelihoods: Animal Husbandry

To supplement vegetable production at each AYM agriculture To supplement vegetable production at each AYM agriculture site, the youth participants will be trained in the rearing of site, the youth participants will be trained in the rearing of animals such as: animals such as:

SheepSheep ChickensChickens CowsCows Goats Goats

Fish FarmingFish FarmingFish is consumed in a vast majority of native Sierra Leonean Fish is consumed in a vast majority of native Sierra Leonean

dishes, but supply varies with seasonal changes and over-dishes, but supply varies with seasonal changes and over-fishing. Fish farming is an ideal way of creating a constant fishing. Fish farming is an ideal way of creating a constant supply in the market as well as protecting natural fishing supply in the market as well as protecting natural fishing habitats from over-fishinghabitats from over-fishing

Future Agriculture ProjectsFuture Agriculture Projects

Large-Scale Cassava and Peanuts ProductionLarge-Scale Cassava and Peanuts Production Local farmers have vast experience in growing Local farmers have vast experience in growing

cassava and peanuts concurrently for high yield.cassava and peanuts concurrently for high yield. AYM is planning to lay 2-mile plots of Cassava and AYM is planning to lay 2-mile plots of Cassava and

Peanuts at several sites in the Bonthe District.Peanuts at several sites in the Bonthe District.

AYM Tourism ProgramsAYM Tourism Programs

Hospitality ManagementHospitality Management Moselleh Beach and Forest PreserveMoselleh Beach and Forest Preserve Restaurants and Night ClubsRestaurants and Night Clubs Guest HousesGuest Houses

Future ProjectsFuture Projects International Youth ConferencesInternational Youth Conferences Student group study abroad programsStudent group study abroad programs Eco-Tourism, VolunTourism, Adventure TourismEco-Tourism, VolunTourism, Adventure Tourism

Moselleh BeachMoselleh Beach

--Located 1 ½ miles from the AYM Headquarters (Mattru --Located 1 ½ miles from the AYM Headquarters (Mattru Jong), Moselleh is 3 square miles and includes a beautiful Jong), Moselleh is 3 square miles and includes a beautiful tourist beach and a wildlife and ancient forest preservetourist beach and a wildlife and ancient forest preserve

--There are 65 volunteers who develop and upkeep the --There are 65 volunteers who develop and upkeep the beach, who call themselves the “Beach Boys and Girls”beach, who call themselves the “Beach Boys and Girls”

Creating Moselleh BeachCreating Moselleh Beach

Moselleh Beach OutingsMoselleh Beach Outings

Moselleh Wildlife and Ancient Forest Moselleh Wildlife and Ancient Forest PreservePreserve

VisitVisithttp://www.aym-inc.orghttp://www.aym-inc.org

DONATE NOWDONATE NOWUpdates and more pictures!Updates and more pictures!

AYM WebsiteAYM WebsiteVolunteer ApplicationVolunteer Application