Fund Raising For The

Construction of B-Gifted

Multi-media Conference

Venue In Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s Infrastructure

The infrastructure in Sierra Leone was devastated and destroyed during the decade of civil war that also cost the loss of thousands of lives. The destruction includes infrastructures in schools, homes, hospitals, and government offices, both in urban and rural area. Rebuilding of lives, properties, infrastructure is integral and critical to the country’s development.

Infrastructural Challenges

Making the Rarity a RealityRarity of Multimedia conference Venues and Infrastructures in Sierra Leone, makes this venturequite timely and contemporaneous.

With poor infrastructure in Sierra Leone that has been further marred as a result of wars and skirmishes, and the rarity of such conference venues and development in our country, it is crucial that I bring this very valuable complex to make public speaking and debate, conferences, seminars and workshop, a reality. This venue will be dedicated to my long-standing commitment in giving voices to children and youth affected by war. The project will solicit the support of The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Lands, Housing, Country Planning and the environment, and the endorsement of the project on a request to grant us a consideration for the lease of a large acre of land situate in Freetown, towards realizing this dream. But this vision will never be realized without a full commitment of development partners.

The Founder’s Vision

As a world-wide speaker on the issue of children’s rights, child soldiers and war affected youth in conflict and post conflict zones, and as the CEO/Founder of B-Gifted Foundation in Sierra Leone. Benson-Greene International Foundation Towards Enhancing Development) my vision is to create a multi-media conference venue in Sierra Leone to attract future debates on key national and global issues. These conferences will cover themes not limited to peace building, human rights, conflict resolution, environment and climate change, health, poverty and those adequately covered by the MDG. Through the B-Gifted Foundation, we will work with sponsors and partners to construct a multi-media conference centre which is particularly lacking in Sierra Leone. At the prospective B-Gifted Conference Centre, will be the host for future debates that will help fashion a new world towards development and peace. There, I anticipate that many international seminars and conferences will be hosted and will help to bring insight into issues that will also change our societies for the better.

ENVISIONING THE B-GIFTED MULTI-MEDIA CONFERENCE VENUE IN FREETOWN SIERRA LEONE

Andrew Benson Greene was a participant at the International Corporations Days, hosted By CIDA in Ottawa, 2004

Andrew (second from right) spoke on the theme ‘Youth Empowering youth in achieving the MDG’

Fun-raising at McGill University Canada Campus with interest Human Rights group for War Child

Fund Raising on behalf of children of War, McGill University Canada

Founder’s Speaking Tours

I realize in my many speaking tours around the world, how important these discussions and debates were to help shape and transform societies for the better.

Andrew Benson Greene Speaking here at the

McGill Model United Nations McMUN Conference

in 2005, Montreal Canada.

Founders Speaking tours – Predicaments Faced By Child Soldiers

–McGill University Montreal Canada. 2004

The Plus Of Our Foundation is Development which is The Plus Of Our Foundation is Development which is At the Heartbeat of Sierra Leone’s Development AgendaAt the Heartbeat of Sierra Leone’s Development Agenda

AT B-GIFTED we lay the foundation such that people who were hit by a decade of war and violence can atone for those years and rebuild their lives. Development Cooperation is not a panacea. It cannot replace efforts by the partners themselves, as sometimes aid is ineffective. However, there is no alternative, because the many positive results give hope, and hope gives people a future for their lives, rights as humans to live and their human dignity. Poverty and need have many causes. These include structural weakness, as well as natural disasters and wars. We also reckon that where there are large poverty gaps, there is a greater risk of conflicts. B-Gifted with partners in the west create the preconditions essential to sustainable, forward looking development. We should also lay the foundation on which people who have been impacted by war and poverty can rebuild their future.

Education Without Borders

Andrew was a Guest Speaker at the 2007 Education without Borders Conference at the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)

2007 Education without Borders Conference at the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)

Founder and CEO of B-Gifted Andrew Benson Greene gave a campus-wide lectures as guest lecturer on the theme, Children of the Crossfire at Kenyon College Ohio in March of 2007.

Various campus human rights interest groups also had a lot of debates on this issues.

Campus-Wide Lectures, Nazarene University St. Vernon Ohio

Campus –Wide Lectures Nazarene University, St. Vernon Ohio USA March 2007

Speaking and PowerPoint Presentation about children of the Cross fire Nazarene University

Informal rapport and discussions with students at the conference venue after the talk – Nazarene University March USA 2007

One on one Informal post-speech discussions Nazarene University – St, Vernon Ohio USA

Pearson Peace keeping Centre Conference Venue Ottawa Canada

Organized by the Canadian peace Building Coordinating Committee CPBCC. ‘Giving Voice to Children affected by armed conflict

Speaking at the Canadian Peace Building Coordinating Committee Conference.

Pearson Peace Keeping Centre Ottawa Canada On the issue of the DDR

Pearson Peace Building Centre Ottawa, Canada

AS A McGill University Sauvé Scholar, Andrew (third from left) His colleagues and Sauvé Founding Director Jim Wright, visited the United States Institute For Peace (USIP) Washington DC where he had interviews with USIP staff.

Founder and CEO Attended the Building a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World Conference at the World Bank Conference Hall inWashington DC.

Teaching Peace At WH Day Elementary School In Bradford Ontario, Canada

My students in the peace-building class – Bradford Ontario 2004

Became a Sauvé Scholar

McGill University Montreal Canada

Sauvé Scholars McGill University, Montreal

African Now Untold stories Conference Hosted By CIDAat Carleton University Ottawa, Canada

Allan Rock Special Representative of Canada to the United Nations and Andrew Benson Greene, Founder and CEO, B-Gifted Foundation

African Now Untold Stories Conference Hosted By CIDA at Carleton University Canada

Round Table Discussion York University and WH Day staff in Toronto Canada

Round Table discussion With York University Staff in TorontoGuest Speaker Roland Case – Simon Fraser University

THIMUNThe Hague International Model United Nations

The Hague, Netherlands 2004The Hague International Model UN Conference

THIMUN exists "to uphold the ideals of the United Nations Among The Young," involves youth in making the United Nations "effective and responsive to the needs of the people worldwide." - KOFI ANAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE U.N.

On January 28th, 2004, Andrew Benson Greene, Jr. had the honor to be summoned as a Guest Speaker to the 36th session of The Hague International Model UN by the THIMUN Foundation. The overall theme of the THIMUN conference this year was ‘Information, A Power for Change.' Greene spoke amongst several renowned speakers including Lucie de Lophem of UNHCR, The Hague. His speech was entitled ‘The Question of the Promotion and Protection of The Rights of Children’, with particular focus on children in areas of armed conflicts. Like previous speeches and workshops delivered in Beijing, Capetown, Moscow, UK, Geneva, etc., he shared his native country Sierra Leone’s tragedy of its children being torn and tattered apart from family and friends through recurrent acts of violence emanating from the civil war.

THIMUN – The Hague International Model United Nations Conference Holland

Report on the XXXVI (Thirty Sixth) Annual Session Of The HagueInternational Model United Nations- (THIMUN) and other Peace and HumanRights Campaigns in The Netherlands.

On January 28th, 2004, Andrew Benson Greene, Jr. had the honor to be summoned as a Guest Speaker to the 36th session of The Hague International Model UN by the THIMUN Foundation. The overall theme of the THIMUN conference this year was ‘Information, A Power for Change.' Greene spoke amongst several renowned speakers including Lucie de Lophem of UNHCR, The Hague. His speech was entitled ‘The Question of the Promotion and Protection of The Rights of Children’, with particular focus on children in areas of armed conflicts. Like previous speeches and workshops delivered in Beijing, Capetown, Moscow, UK, Geneva, etc., he shared his native country Sierra Leone’s tragedy of its children being torn and tattered apart from family and friends through recurrent acts of violence emanating from the civil war.

Greene made mention of the far-reaching effects of physical and emotional scars left on the more than 300,000 children due to warfare. He emphasized the extent of human barbarism of children’s hands being hacked by the sheer brutality of a rebel group in Sierra Leone. Greene also suggested that to assure human rights, the global community must constantly express support and solidarity to the children of the world who are caught up in wars, and that they must be prepared to help the children in any possible way. In turn, the children and youth will be inclined to raise awareness of the need to protect children’s rights on a global level, thereby building a solid foundation for peace and human rights.

Andrew Greene on the importance of THIMUN:"When I first heard several years ago about The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN), I was not quite convinced of the impact such a simulation could make to the UN and humanity as a whole. My thoughts were that merely having young people brainstorm issues of the UN at such a conference, when decisions at the UN are made by their seniors, rendered the exercise ludicrous. But my perceptions have since changed as I realized that THIMUN delegates were youth who could do more than merely brainstorm, but who also have the verve to put their thoughts into concrete action upon returning to their respective countries. More often than not, the resolutions taken at THIMUN are constructive and presented in the form of an action paper that can be unitized by UN organizations."

Andrew Greene, Mary Kelly and her grade six studentsat International School of Amsterdam ISA.

The visit to ISA was packed with many interactions and workshops with students related to the issues of peace building, human rights, and rights of children in armed conflict. Greene initiated an exercise in which the students were obliged to answer questions like ‘how does a child feel when affected by war?' Andrew Greene conducting an exercise with the students."Although the children’s lives at this school have been far removed from any splinter of war," Greene commented afterward, "their responses were as articulate as though they had lived through wars and skirmishes. They were able to step into the shoes of children whose lives were shattered and momentarily make-believe the situation. I could see in the faces the reaction and the common feeling of dread in the faces, as though the kids were tacitly saying; ‘it could have been me facing the hunger, deprivation from education, refugee life, trauma and other dreaded consequences."

Comprehensive List of Speaking Tours Can Be Found Here

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES: PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SPEECHES: 7th Annual International Educational Conference Beijing, China, July 7-14, 2000. The overall theme of this conference was

“Sharing and Understanding Tele-Education in the Twenty Century”. 8th Annual International Educational Conference , Capetown, South Africa-2001.

Held a trio workshop entitled ‘Using Tele-Communication Technology to illustrate the predicament faced by child soldiers. 9th Annual International Educational Conference , July 8-13 2002 Moscow, Russia. Title of presentation ‘May Peace

Prevail On Earth’ Africa-Canada Youth Symposium for Leadership in Development hosted by Coady International Institute at St. Francis

Xavier University Nova Scotia, Canada July 22-27,2003. Lead workshop presenter on Peace and Conflict Resolution. World Summit on the Information Society Conference-Geneva, Switzerland, on 10 December -2003 at palexpo Exhibition

and Conference Center. ‘Presentation: ICT and their roles in promotion Peace amongst Youth in Conflict Zones. Guest Speaker: The Hague International Model United Nations Conference THIMUN in the Hague, Netherlands January

2004. Invited to address THIMUN which exists “to uphold the ideals of the United Nations among the Young. Also spoke at the International School of Amsterdam after his THIMUN experience.

Guest Speaker, International Corporations Day Hosted by CIDA in Ottawa, Canada- Nov 1st to 3rd 2004 “discuss the prospects for the world’s Future in the context of the global roadmap for change.” Focusing on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)-Spoke as a Panelist on the subject “Youth Empowering Youth”.

Guest Speaker- Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE Conference Ottawa, Canada- November 25th Spoke at the plenary on the theme that explores the changes in donor agency policy that affect Africa

Co-presenter with at Peel District-‘Leadership in Action for Education Conference’. In Toronto, Canada. Building a culture of Peace and nonviolence for the children of the world Washington DC, World Bank Complex. March

2005 Lectures to Students of Anthropology Class on peace, conflict and child soldiers, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Jan 2005 Participant at the 1st world Ethics Forum for Leadership and Integrity, oxford University UK sponsored by the World bank. Speaker Canadian Peace Building Coordinating Committee conference at the Pearson peace Building Centre Irmas International Youth Media Summit California USA 2006 Guest Speaker -Education Without Borders EWB Abu Dhabi February 2007 Children of the Crossfire -Kenyon College, Ohio April 2007 Wireless Meeting – Insight Creative Communication and Peer1 Vancouver Canada 6th to 11th April 2007 Exercise Prodigal Child –Accra Simulation, Ghana July 2007 Attended ECOCITY Builders environmental Conference San Francisco California USA April 2008

Africa-Canada Youth Symposium- Antigonish, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada

                                                         

           

Andrew Benson Greene, Jr. pictured here with Madam Mary Coyle, University Vice -President & Director of the Coady International Institute

                          

           

Thanks to ACYS' many sponsors Andrew Greene and other program coordinators were able to attend this valuable symposium and share ideas with each other in true collaborative spirit

Andrew and Louise Abour when she was Canadian Justice Minister

Geneva, Switzerland - 2003 On 10 December, Andrew Greene and other non-profit leaders throughout the world joined such notables as the

wife of U.N. President Kofi Annan and Swiss president Pascal Couchepin to present and discuss issues related to IT accessing and the bridging of the digital divide. This very prestigious event helped to convey its message of peace through global interconnectivity while offering a world of new ideas and contacts.

Pascal Couchepin, President of the Swiss Confederation, noted that "many people around the world have no access to communication networks. Information and communication are the most important pre-conditions for the economic and cultural development of any society. It is therefore our duty to bridge the digital divide." Greene summoned to attend the WSIS event after being accredited by the organization Taking IT Global and as part of the 'Youth Creating Digital Opportunities' (YCDO). His presentation was scheduled for the 10th of December, which is also World Youth Day. His presentation took place amongst a series of workshops, forums and panel discussions also scheduled for that youth day. The themes varied from education to media, employment and human rights etc. Many of the day's events portrayed what was important to young people in an information society, and seeking answers to how ICT's can be harnessed by young people for development goals. Greene's colleague from Sierra Leone, Sylvanus Murray, who is the current Coordinator of Taking IT Global in Sierra Leone, had the singular honour to showcase through a Powerpoint presentation the whole gamut of pre-conference interactive forum activities that were locally held in Freetown, as a runner-up to the WSIS events. Through out Sylvanus' presentation, he was able to throw light on the need for better access to Information Communication Technology in a country like Sierra Leone recovering from the ashes of war. Also, highlights of the Youth Caucus activities included national WSIS youth campaigns, the launching of new projects and partnership, and WSIS Youth Award Winners. Greene was allotted the task of speaking at a panel on the topic of Human Rights and the role of ICT to strengthen Human Rights with Post-conflict and peace Building Process. Greene dwelled on the urgent need for the appropriate use of ICT to contribute towards dialogue and peace building. Through first hand experience, he was able to show how his involvement in child soldiers and the current peace and reconciliation has helped in the on-going human rights campaign and peace process amongst many Sierra Leoneans and those across the vast cultural divide. The experiences shared by the co-panellist and the feedback from the audience helped a great deal to further create a forum where the ideas can be developed into concrete action. With poor access to ICT, a prerequisite for an inclusive information society, if Sierra Leone is to share in this digital revolution and the information age, its capacity in terms of ICT and usage must be boosted. As Kofi Annan, Secretary General Of The United Nations puts it, "these technologies are a tremendous force for creating opportunities, and for integrating people and nations into the global economy. But too many of the world's people remain untouched by the information revolution. A digital divide threatens to exacerbate already wide gaps between rich and poor, within and amongst countries."  

Child Soldiers Simulation Exercise, Accra Ghana July 2007

The Search for Common Ground, UNICEF Canada, USAID’s Displaced Children and Orphans’ Fund, the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Canada, the Office of Canadian Senator Romeo Dallaire and KAIPTC held a Child Soldiers Simulation Exercise from Monday, 16 July-Friday, 20 July 2007

The Exercise Prodigal Child Team. 55 experts and practitioners on child soldiers drawn from around the world, especially conflict areas, was part of a three-phase programme to fight the use of child soldiers.

Taking the Challenge to Ban Child Soldiers Globally

Thank You!

1st World Ethics Forum for Leadership and Integrity, Oxford University UK sponsored by the World bank.