The Year 2002 officially marked the end of the civil crisis in Sierra Leone, as declared by the formal President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, in his “the war don, don” national speech broadcast on January 17, 2002 This positive indication restored confidence among people and attracted both Global and National NGO’s to resume full-scale operations to provide development assistance in the country

Some 1.6 million Internally Displaced people (IDP’s) were resettled and some 45,000 ex-combatants were reintegrated to their former communities. Massive reconciliation processes across the country were carried out to create a stable society. However, the process of reconciliation still remains vital to actually Reorientate the minds of the  people from war to peace. It was also necessary to promote the concept of forgiveness to allow for proper transformation and reintegration, which is essential for sustainable and permanent peace across the nation.The Year 2003 marked the real hope for peace and development. Despite international intervention of relief support to the war affected communities, the Sierra Leonean people continued to suffer from chronic hunger and poverty.The war left behind abandoned children, orphans, widows and frustrated youth who posed a heavy burden on the government, international community, NGOs and organizations seeking to alleviate escalating demands of a vulnerable society.

Those who moved to the cities because of the war have not returned to their communities. These individuals often have no skills  to rely on, and as a result engage in petty trading.  The present living conditions of youths in Sierra Leone are similar to the prevailing conditions before the rebel war in 1991, a significant number of youth engage in drug use, armed robbery and other activities that pose a serious security concern.
 
Social conditions of war widows have also forced some women to engage in the sex trade , which consequently exposes them to sexually transmitted diseases and early child birth.Youths in rural communities are more likely to engage in marijuana cultivation (which provides them with fast income) than natural food production. Consequently, this decreases food production and increases criminal behavior in the country.

Now is the time to act, and prevent the current levels of poverty from escalating into unrest or even conflict. With a proven track record of projects and locally relevant yet internationally respected expertise, no organization is better poised to lead the way to development by Sierra Leoneans for Sierra Leoneans than OPARD-SL.