The Republic of Sierra Leone is located on the Atlantic coast of the West African sub-region. It has two neighboring countries: Guinea in the north-east and Liberia in the south-east. Freetown, its largest city as well as its capital, is located near the third largest natural harbor in the world, the Sierra Leone Harbor, Although English is the official language, Krio, Temne, and Mende are also widely spoken in the country.
Published in Chapter:
An Assessment Project on the “Literacy-on-the-Job” Needs of Young Adults in Sierra Leone
Amma Akrofi (Texas Tech University, USA) and Amy Parker (Western Oregon University, USA)
Copyright: © 2015
|Pages: 28
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-8668-7.ch001
Abstract
This chapter outlines and describes a sponsored needs assessment process wherein a small group of researchers from various disciplines designed an approach for the burgeoning population of youth in Sierra Leone to learn literacy skills in a practical, motivating and sustainable way- “literacy-on-the-job”. In order to create a responsive and aligned intervention, the authors used a participatory methodology to understand the values and needs of representatives situated in industrial, governmental, educational and community-based youth organizations. The voices and perspectives of individuals across various businesses, schools, civic offices, and social groups were woven together to create a portrait of the complex landscape where young adults, in particular, are struggling to achieve and survive. Recommendations for a process of full implementation of the” literacy-on-the- job model” in both Sierra Leone and nations with similar landscapes are provided.