Category: Other topics

This post is the second in the series looking at the development of the Sri Lankan community bike patrol project.

In the last post, I used a 2012 article by Gita Sabharwa to provide some background for this initiative.

This second post shares a 2017 EU-CIVAP article by Johann Rebert, Deputy Country Representative (Sri Lanka) Asia Foundation.

I was interested to see what ideas, learnings or suggestions might be offered about this project after it has been running for a few years.

So here it it.

Enjoy!

Community policing in Sri Lanka: a foundation for wider police reform?

Community-oriented policing is not necessarily new, but its popularity has grown significantly over the recent past. The purpose of community policing is often to improve community-police relations and ensure greater police responsiveness to local safety and security issues. Community policing is often spoken of as a ‘philosophy’, which enables its implementation to remain flexible and adapted to local priorities and political dynamics.

The community policing approach often has broad and varied objectives, depending on whether one asks citizens, the police, NGOs or donors. These objectives can range from preventing and reducing crime, and the fear of crime, to building trust and confidence between the community and police, to seeking to ensure a more accountable police service and improving state-society relations (Denney and Jenkins 2013). These multiple and overlapping objectives can often present a challenge when supporting the implementation of community policing, which The Asia Foundation has grappled with over the years.

Since 2009, the Asia Foundation has been working in Sri Lanka with local leaders, community groups, and the Sri Lankan Police Service to implement community policing programs that foster relationships between police and communities, inviting citizens’ input to resolve root causes of security and safety issues. Among the damaging legacies of Sri Lanka’s decades of civil conflict was the erosion of trust between citizens and police officers in communities across the country.

This was particularly true in the Northern Province, which bore the brunt of violent conflict in the last years of the war, and in the Eastern Province, where the population is a more diverse mix of Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities. While some of this sentiment remains today despite the war ending in 2009, there is also dissatisfaction in Southern part of the country with regard to the ways in which the police interact with members of the public.

With the support of the Sri Lanka Police, community policing programs started in two small pilot locations in central areas of the country in 2009, and had expanded to 10 more locations in the North, East and South by 2012. A basic training manual was developed in 2011, which is now used for training new recruits at the National Police Academy, and a practical training guide contextualised for Sri Lanka is currently being implemented with Officers-in-Charge of stations. The aim remains to institutionalise this approach nationwide by embedding it in the ongoing police reform process.

Several community policing strategies have been helpful in moving from theory to practice in the Sri Lankan context. While there is some debate over the effectiveness of increased patrolling to reduce crime, bicycle patrols increase officers’ visibility and accessibility. The communities are more comfortable in approaching recognisable officers and are more likely to then raise concerns with regard to local safety and security.

Mobile police services have helped to bring vital police services – such as replacing official ID documentation, issuing certifications for licences, and filing complaints – to remote areas where citizens would otherwise have to travel prohibitively long distances to stations. On designated days, police set up temporary, one-stop shops (in collaboration with local government departments) that offer services normally available at stations, and they combine this with public awareness campaign activities on public safety issues such as traffic safety or preventing theft.

Community Policing Committees bring together community members, police, and government officials to tackle community concerns before they escalate, as well as to address persistent issues within a community. At monthly meetings, police hear from the community about key concerns, which are usually related to minor crimes, and offer the resources they have available to resolve them.

While the Sri Lanka Police Service increasingly values and understands community policing, ensuring institutionalisation of the approach across the country is a challenge that will take time to address. One positive outcome has been the acceptance of community-oriented policing as the underlying ethos, no matter which functional division police officers are deployed to. It is also clear that community policing approaches in and of themselves will be one step towards improving community-police relations, but wider police reform will be necessary in Sri Lanka to ensure sustainable results.

It is important to note that the Ministry of Law and Order, with the support of the Sri Lanka Police and the National Police Commission, have recently begun efforts to promote police reform. While community policing has been an entry point for improving trust and confidence in the police, it will become a central pillar of police reform in the coming years.

Today I have some wonderful news!

Many of you know that at the start of this year, I went to Sierra Leone for my PhD girls bikes-for-education fieldwork.

I was there for three weeks and came back just before COVID-19 shut down travel.

I was based in Lunsar, which is an ex-mining community about 1.5 hours out of the capital city, Freetown.

I was living with Karim ‘Stylish’ Kamara and his fantastic partner Francess. Stylish is the Country program manager for Village Bicycle Project.

While there, I spent lots of time gathering research data with Stylish as a research participant and working with Stylish and others on VPB projects to see how bicycles featured in girl’s access to education in the local area.

I spent also lot of time with Stylish, Francess, our neighbours and community members learning as much as I could about local life, cooking, customs and talking to as many people as I could -always open to learn more.

While I was there, Francess was pregnant with Stylish and her first child.

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I just received the news that Francess gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl!

Congratulations!

Both mother and baby are doing well! Hooray!!

If that is not enough cause for celebration, Stylish and Francess named their daughter Nina – after me!

What an unexpected honour!

I had no idea they were thinking of doing this and was floored when they told me.

It is such a privilege and a delight.

Welcome to the world – Nina Sarah Divine Kamara!

Lil Nina is the most adorable baby and I am so happy for both Francess and Stylish!

So, dear readers, it gives me great pleasure to officially introduce you to Nina Sarah Divine Kamara! Born July  9^th 2020.

A huge warm welcome to Lil Nina from our eclectic, diverse and internationally extended family!

This February I’ve been away in Lunsar, Sierra Leone completing my PhD fieldwork.

I had a furious time leading up to going away organising visas, vaccinations and equipment.

Then I was away for a hectic couple of weeks, and on return, I’ve needed some time to reset and process all that has transpired.

Considering the difference in culture, location and time zones, I am feeling quite discombobulated – as you can imagine.

The trip was fantastic.

Humbling, inspiring and challenging – and wonderfully successful as far as my research was concerned.

I am still piecing it all together and will need some time to reorient. It is always returning that is the hardest.

But here are some initial thoughts.

Amazing people

I stayed with Stylish (who works for Village Bicycle Project – my PhD research partner organisation) and his fiancé Kissime in their house. Kao, a Japanese intern who has been there for 4 months already was in the room next to mine. The local community was amazing and our neighbours were so welcoming. Our accommodation was safe and comfortable and like everyone else in Sierra Leone, we had no running water. The house had a generator, but it often clapped out so we had electricity for only 4 nights during my stay – which was awesome because we had lights and I could charge my phone, Go Pro and other devices- which was much needed! Plus it meant our house got swamped on ‘power nights’ with friends who took the opportunity come and watch TV….a real treat for all!

I was blown away by the friendliness of everyone I met who worked with VBP, in VBP bike shops, other riders and supporters – and the incredible The Lunsar Cycling Team. I always had someone to ride with, a friend to go to market with, an aunty to explain women-business, farmers who showed me subsistent agriculture, educators who welcomed me into their schools, mates who took me to local events – and there was always someone to answer my seemingly never-ending questions about culture, food, biking, education and the environment.

I loved where we stayed. Our neighbours were endless enthusiastic and helpful and there were always people coming and going – dropping in for a visit, hanging out for a chat, or getting ready for a ride. Like everyone else, I was up early in the morning to help with chores. Kao showed me how to sweep the front of the house and get the twice-daily water from the well. Many times during my stay, Kissime showed me how to make the local dishes she was preparing – like informal cooking classes. She patiently taught me how to cook local meals like Crain-Crain, fried fish and rice (one of my favourites), which she expertly made for 12 people 3 times a day.

I had the pleasure of working, learning, laughing and riding with so many inspiring and entertaining characters -too many to mention here, but I will be sharing some of them on this blog. The resourcefulness and positivity I encountered in the face of extreme poverty have – and will continue to – have a profound impact on me.

Riding the surrounds

The riding was varied and challenging. When I was in Lunsar, it was 42C and 96% humidity. It took a day or two to get used to the humidity, but I had come straight from Queensland’s tropical summer, so the heat was okay for me. I did one ride in the middle of the day and was floored by the oppressive, sweaty humidity – lesson learnt.

The terrain is dusty, dry and gravelly. I had a hybrid bike that handled the trails well. Many of the trails changed depending on how close they were to Lunsar. The closer to town the trail was, the more well used, flatter, wider and more even it was. But as soon as wound your way even 2kms out of town, the trails often changed and were more difficult. Sometimes muddy and waterlogged, other times, bumpy and eroded. There were many log river crossing where you would have to carry your bike or take your shoes off and wade through flooded areas.

In the mornings, the trails were busy with foot traffic. There were women walking to town with their heads precariously laden with massive plastic tubs of food to sell, groups of kids walking the long way to school, old men weaving in and out of the side tracks that crisscrossed the main trails, and sometimes motorbikes ferrying loads of people between the intermittent communities.

Travelling and being a researcher

I have previously travelled overseas for research, but this trip was completely different. This time I was travelling by myself, working on my project and taking in the surrounds of the ‘here-and-now’. This meant I was a walking ‘data lighting rod’ – everything I saw, learnt, felt, smelt, tasted, heard, read, visited and did was unusual, meaningful and useful for my research. It also meant it was exhausting being ‘on’ all the time – especially in a highly-social place where you are not only a guest, but also a curiosity, so everyone wants to meet, talk and show you things. Even when I wasn’t ‘working’, I had groups of local kids around me wanting me to play Skip-Bo (a card game I had brought with me from Australia) with them. I loved the interactivity and company of being so social, but I also needed some downtime to process, write my field notes and reflect on all I was encounters… which was a lot! I found the only time I could get this was when I woke up early at 4.30-5 am. At this time, it was still dark outside, so with my head-torch on and under the cover of my mosquito net, I would update my fieldnotes and journal, knowing full well that as soon as I left my room, there would be no other time by myself for the rest of the day.

Travelling during Coronavirus was also a new experience. I took my health seriously and certainly wasn’t taking any risks given that this trip was central to my PhD research and I had been working towards it for the last 4 years. I wore an N95 respirator face mask and gloves the whole time I flew there and back (28 hours there and the same return), used hospital-grade hand sanitizer and the same to wipe down all my aeroplane seat buckles, hand rests, touchscreens and tray table surfaces. I felt a little conspicuous, but there were heaps of other travellers in face masks, although I was the only one in gloves as well. But this turned out to be a blessing as I got triaged to the front of many of the health checkpoints because the people (in Hazchem suits) could see I was taking precautions (ie I was quick and easy to process, so I was ushered upfront) and I got processed before anyone else. So I spend very little time transiting through airports, while other passengers waited in very long lines to have their temperature tested. I was very glad to arrive back home just before many major international airports implement travel bans for certain nationalities. There and back safe and healthy – thank you very much!

There is much more to tell, but for now…I need to rest.

I’ll share more once I get over the shock of jetlag and the fact that clean drinking water runs out of taps.

Stay amazing all.

Hi Bike Friend!

Thanks for stopping in to see what’s new on Bicycles Create Change.

I am currently in Sierra Leone undertaking my PhD fieldwork.

For the next couple of weeks, I am living, working, researching and riding in Lunsar.

I am working with Karim ‘Stylish’ Kamara, Village Bicycle Project Country Program Manager and having an incredible – and busy – time.

There is no reliable internet where I am, so the blog is on hold until I return.

Once back, I will be sharing some of the amazing people, places, organisations and bike rides of Lunsar.

I look forward to seeing you back here in March.

Until then …from Sierra Leone – Happy riding all!

My PhD fieldwork in Sierra Leone looks at how bicycles feature in African girls’ access to education. Although there is a paucity of empirical research in this area, there are still projects working in this area. One research project that has been an invaluable resource for me, is Laurens Hof’s Master thesis entitled: Teaching girls how to ride a bicycle: gender and cycling in Lunsar, Sierra Leone.

Laurens Hof is a Dutch student at Utrecht University.  She undertook her 7-month research with the same organisation I will be working with later this month (Jan 2020). So the case study and background Lauren’ wrote up is a gold mine for me.

It was also useful because it provides important nuanced sociological insights about the local context and gender norms that relate to mobility in Lunsar.

Lauren’s research centres on one of three Village Bicycle Project programs – the girls Learn how to ride program.

Her final paper is a very interesting read and she has crammed it full of compelling (and for my project useful) local perspicacity.

Laurens uses Social Constructions as her theoretical frame to explore critical areas of gender, mobility, gender norms for children, knowledge transfer and community perception.

Here overarching research objective was: to create a thick description of how people in and around Lunsar use bicycles and which meaning they attach to them, informed by both the accessibility of bikes to women and girls and the effect of programs that teach girls how to ride a bicycle.

Below are the research questions that guided Laurens’ work and her final abstract.

Research questions

Her three research questions were:

Question One: What are gender norms and expectations and social stigmas for boys’ and girls’ behavior in Lunsar, and what do these gendered norms convey about the mobility of boys and girls?

Question Two: Who uses bicycles, how bicycles are being used, what are the social requirements for bike usage, and how is the technology perceived by both users and nonusers?

Question Three: How does the VBP use the ‘Learn to Ride’ program to promote cycling for girls, what is the theoretic foundation of this project, what is the effect of the program on the social stigmas that girls experience and how is the outcome perceived in the Lunsar area?

Lauren’s Abstract

Women and girls in sub Saharan African countries often face constraints and limitations on their mobility. Social stigmas and a lack of access to means of transport constrain their mobility.

In this research, headway is made into understanding the mobility of girls and women in Lunsar, as little is known about how in this region gender is perceived, as well as how those understandings of gender relate to the mobility of women. An overview is given of gender in the Lunsar society, and what the societal norms are for boys and girls. Specific attention is paid to the gender norms that relate to mobility.

One of the main findings is that girls’ mobility is constrained with a social stigma that girls who ride a bicycle will lose their virginity. The mobility of adult women is also constrained, a woman who rides a bicycle is deemed to be a prostitute.

These constraints that women and girls experience are not a uniform part of society, they are most regularly encountered in the neighboring villages, but not everyone holds to these beliefs.

In the second part of this research an analysis is made of how different groups within the Lunsar society understand and view bicycles. It shows that there are multiple interpretations possible, who are sometimes with each other in conflict. Bicycles are mainly seen as a tool for children to go to school, as well as a device to race and sport.

These dominating views drown out other potential views, such as the idea that a bicycle can be used for the transportation of goods.

Finally, the programs of the NGO Village Bicycle Project are reviewed and show the effect that teaching girls how to ride a bicycle has an effect on the exclusion of girls riding a bicycle.

It shows that teaching girls how to ride a bike increases the mobility of girls whose parents were already accepting of their daughter riding a bicycle, but that effect was not found on girls whose parents were not accepting of that.

Happy New Gear (Year) – and Happy New Decade!

Another amazing year to explore our local surrounds and beyond on two wheels!

Whatever you ride and however often you ride it – now is the time to reinvigorate you and your beloved bicycle!

How about this year, sharing your love of cycling beyond your normal routine and friendship group? This is easy to do – here’s a few quick and easy ways to kick of 2020 with a positive cycling spirit:

• arrange a bicycle picnic event for friends with kids
• go for a ride somewhere new (without a map)
• make an effort to talk cyclists you have never met before
• help someone who has not ridden in a while get back on the bike
• undertake your own fundraising bike ride challenge
• reduce your cycling gear and donate the rest to those in need
• show a daughter how to change a bike tyre
• pick up rubbish along your favourite bike routes
• make some rides completely technology and device-free
• throw some native seed bombs into vacant land as you ride past
• spend a day helping out a bike charity
• catch yourself saying ‘girls’ to women riders, just call them ‘cyclists’
• when buying biking gear, question consumption, packaging and waste practices

2020 is also shaping up to be a big year internationally. Here are some key global events coming up in 2020.

• The US will have their presidential elections.
• 2020 Rover Space Mission: Mars 2020 will join Curiosity to explore Mars.
• The Great South American Eclipse (Dec 14^th) will be best seen in Argentina.
• Medical Breakthrough: New peanut allergy therapy/treatment.
• The 2020 Summer Olympics will be in Tokyo. Along with all the other summer sports, this Summer Olympics will also include 5 new sports: Karate, baseball/softball, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing.
• 2020 is the UN International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). This means 2020 is dedicated to raising awareness about plant health and the impact of healthy plants and forests on food security, poverty, economic development, and sustainability.
• 2020 is the year of the White Metal Rat in the Chinese Zodiac. The rat is the first all of the zodiac animals and is associated with the Earthly Branch and midnight hours. The rat is yang in energy and linked to new beginnings, wellness, wisdom, wealth and surplus. Very fortuitous!

There is so much going on this year!

So, whatever your plans are and wherever you are – happy new year!

I hope all your 2020 biking (and other) adventures are safe, fun and constructive.

Thank you to all the readers and supporters of this blog.

2019 was a hectic year and it was lovely receiving emails of encouragement, projects to follow up on and suggestions for posts.

Thank you very much all! I appreciate it so much!

2020 will be big year for me.

This year I will be travelling to Africa for my PhD bicycle research fieldwork, revamping a new look for my flower bike Leki and initiating a few new community bike projects.

As always, I will be documenting all on this blog – so stay tuned!

I’m excited to continue sharing with you the many glorious ways in which bicycles create positive personal, community and environmental change!

Happy 2020 all!