Region: Sierra Leone, Africa

Main Areas Of Interest: post-conflict reconstruction, human rights

Fellowship Period: September - November 2007

Keywords: youth rights, child rights, advocacy

Biographical Profile:
James Hallowell grew up in Makeni in Sierra Leone. He was a volunteer school outreach officer at Peacelinks, a position that introduced him to human rights work. His volunteer service coincided with the emergence of the decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone. The insecurity and anticipated attack on Makeni by rebels forced James out of the town and he later settled in Freetown, where he continued his work with Peacelinks which empowers children and young people to be positive contributors to the state building process in Sierra Leone.

At Peacelinks, he used his human rights skills for the rehabilitation and reintegration project of former child soldiers that were affected by the civil war in Sierra Leone. James has helped several victims with referral service for legal aid, conducted trainings and workshops for young people and was a participant to the workshop that reviewed the Sierra Leone Child Rights Bill that was enacted by the outgoing legislature in Sierra Leone.

Through his civil society activism, James came into contact with Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), a leading human rights advocacy agency in Sierra Leone. During his fellowship at ICTE, James utilized his field work experience in youth education, conflict resolution and sustainable development to further prepare him with the requisite skills to undertake in-depth research on the nexus between tolerance, education and human rights in post-conflict Sierra Leone.