About Kono

High youth/ adult unemployment and widespread deprivation
High numbers of children (conservative estimate 13,000) orphaned by the war living on the streets or working as child miners or child prostitutes at constant risk of abuse and the threat of HIV/AIDS
economy dependent on unreliable alluvial diamond mining
absence of large private sector employers
low capacity in essential community building income generating skill areas
high illiteracy rate due largely to 11 years of relentless brutal rebel war that saw wholesale destruction of social infrastructure
preponderance of substandard dwellings characterised by dab mud structures with fragile plastic sheeting as roofs, which promote damp and respiratory illness. These structures are grossly inadequate during the seasonal heavy rains characteristic of Kono.

readiness to access donor funds
abundant development space
development sites which could be more actively promoted
strong interest in community economic development manifest in the willingness of local groups to work on development projects
potential to develop youth skills in other areas e.g. tourism and culture
potential to develop multi media applications to improve business and general education of young people particularly, the local population in general