NEWAT
You are probably familiar with the concept of a neighborhood watch; you may even have one in your community; maybe you are part of your local neighborhood watch program.
NEWAT (Neighborhood Watch Team) is not the usual watch program.
THEN:
The Buduburam Refugee Settlement (Liberian Refugee Camp), located in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region, was created by the Government of Ghana in 1990 to host Liberian Refugees. The camp population fluctuated over the years, reaching a peak of over 42,000 refugees after the renewed conflicts in Liberia and Ivory Coast at the beginning of the present decade.
Can you imagine a town of that size without running water, virtually no indoor or outdoor plumbing, without the entire infrastructure we are accustomed to, including public safety?
Desperation was everywhere in Buduburam. Stress levels ran high in a place where disease was rampant, hunger was widespread, and hopes for a better future were had by only a lucky few. It meant that crime was everywhere, too. Children left unattended were vulnerable to child predators. Women were at risk for both rape and non-sexual violence. Theft was rampant. Crime posed a threat to the integrity of the entire community.
Care for the community starts from within. Enter the Neighborhood Watch. Buduburam’s Neighborhood Watch Team (NEWAT), initially supported by the UNHCR, was formed by a few brave, community-minded citizens who recognized the few Ghanaian police stationed at the entrance to the settlement were simply not sufficient in number to cover the public safety needs of the entire camp. NEWAT was established to provide safety to the community and support to the local public safety, including police and fire.
AND NOW:
Over the years, NEWAT has grown into a sizable volunteer force of over 100 West African refugees. With little besides their courage to protect them, the neighborhood watch patrols the camp for potential trouble-makers. They also mediate domestic disputes, and are also often the first responders to the scene of a crime or fire.
Many things have changed at the camp since the early days of NEWAT.
Point Hope has played a large part in creating a healthier environment. We are providing fresh flowing water which has lowered the rate of death and disease from water-borne bacteria.
Point Hope is also helping the vulnerable by caring for their nutritional, educational and medical needs.
Following the inauguration of a democratic government in Liberia in 2006, there has been a continued repatriation of refugees and the current population of the settlement stands at about 20,000-24,000 refugees (12,000 registered and an estimated 8,000-12,000 non-registered), so the area is not as overcrowded as it once was, but it is still more heavily populated than the space reasonably should bear.
Life can still be desperate for many of the refugees. Crime has not ceased. Theft still occurs. Children, young girls and women must still use caution when using the land around the perimeters of the camp as a latrine or walking around after dark; alcohol and drug use is present, as in any town; vehicle accidents are quite common, often resulting in death or serious injury. In the midst of this, NEWAT is more necessary than ever.
Point Hope was recently able to deliver uniforms and boots that had been donated to us for the use of NEWAT, so those in need of help can easily identify a NEWAT member. We would like to do more to support the efforts of Buduburam’s Neighborhood Watch Team, especially as the UNHCR are obligated to withdraw their support as they complete their work at the settlement.
Would you like to help Point Hope expand the scope of support? NEWAT is in need of flashlights and batteries so that their patrols can be done more easily and safely at night. They also need handheld communication devices (walkie-talkies), so that they can communicate with one another and respond more quickly to threats. Right now, NEWAT men and women receive a meager allowance of $15 a month for care and upkeep of their equipment, provided by the UNHCR, and even that will be gone soon. Many of these men and women have few options for employment or any sort of income. Point Hope is offering skills training to help provide options, but in the meantime, we want to help do our part as a community partner to help NEWAT continue to serve their own community.