EMPOWERING LEVUMA BEACH COMMUNITY AND BEACH LOVERS TO CREATE A TOURIST ATTRACTION AND FOSTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

MAKING LEVUMA BEACH A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

CONTENT
The term Levuma means resting place in the Mende parlance. It is believed that Levuma Beach had got its name from trekkers who worked from long distances and came to discover this cool spot for resting. Levuma Beach is located in the western urban district of the Freetown Peninsular. Its border marks the end of Freetown City and the beginning of Goderich rural.

Levuma Beach has for a very long time been utilized for local fishing, where fishermen use the beach to hall fishing net into the sea and draw the net to the beach using a great amount of labour and at the same time catch young fishes and fish eggs. This kind of Fishing has been condemned by the International Marine Time Organization.

CONTENT
Fishermen doing business in this area are bracing themselves for the inevitable change mandated by the International Maritime Organization. Implementing this mandate, will create a vacuum in the productivity of the beach either positively or negatively. POSITIVELY- This will allow the fish to breed which in turn will improve Sierra Leones fish stock and the quantity of the hundreds of variety of fishes and their different speeches. NEGATIVELY- This will create unemployment for some Fishermen who may be to old to venture out into sea or who may not be skilled enough to do out sea fishing. Note! There can be many other advantages and disadvantages as a result of the implementation of this mandate.

CONTENT
Illegal sand extraction has also pervaded the area recently. Individuals living around the community or working within the community have found a new source of living by engaging in this demeaning act. This has no positive effect on the community and the nation at large. It may lead to beach erosion or hinder development activities going on in the vicinity.

Levuma beach has been observed to be one of the most conducive beach for swimming. It is shallower than all the other beaches in the Freetown Peninsular. However the beach is being constantly polluted by individuals who may see it as a garbage throwing site and most unfortunately see it as an ideal spot for human defalcation.

CONTENT

Levuma Beach stretches about a mile distance, boarders with lumley beach and ends at the mouth of the Goderich Lagoon. This beach is perfect for beginners swimming, It opens the mouth of a stream that run some distance behind it. This stream can be best described as a natural swimming pool. The atmosphere is relaxing with a beautiful panorama.

INTENTION
Taking into consideration the road from the agenda for change, on to the present era of prosperity, some members in the community and other progressive Sierra Leoneans, inspired by its cultural heritage, are yearning to put Levuma Beach in the framework of the Governments aspirations and programs for development. They are striving in a bid to facilitate the availability of a unique location, ideal for tourism and productive relaxation, which in turn will create employment opportunities for particularly the youths and women largely from in the community.

INTENTION

Levuma beach can be a constitution of the bedrock of a vibrant and fascinating tourist industry. Sierra Leone is faced with the challenge of rebranding and repackaging its burgeoning tourist industry into a vibrant and deserving institution. Levuma Beach can be modeled to become a unique and stunning panorama, ideal for leisure and holiday tourism, as well as business and visiting friends and relatives tourism.

INTENTION
The rebranding of Levuma Beach will not only impact the tourism industry, its program will be tied to the private sector development scheme, youth employment and a legal framework which will ensure law and order in the vicinity. It will fit into the scheme of improving access to finance, improving the legal and regulatory framework, promoting and supporting entrepreneurship and making the business work. It will also impact into the youth development scheme by providing facilities for youth recreation, learning and meaningful employment opportunity.

HOW/STRATEGY
Well meaning Sierra Leoneans around the community and other forward thinking citizens have taken a reflective look at the present state of affairs in the Beach Location, in particularly; illegal sand mining and the unhygienic nature of its present environment. They have formulated plans for this once relaxing and fascinating spot to recapture and build on its past glory by rebranding it into an African Village with the Sierra Leonean cultural image implanted into it, thus capitulating the precise topography befitting the natural delights characterized in its very existence.

HOW/STRATEGY

The most interesting fact is the little and minimized input needed from Government, and the spirit of voluntarism shown by individuals who are already working to make this dream come true. We have lined a string of solutions which had been carefully schemed by an unbiased team of strategist from various backgrounds and nationality.

HOW/STRATEGY
FORMULATING THE ENGINE of THE PROJECT Strategist have decided to form a management and administrative body responsible for implementing the programs and to achieve its aims and objective. Members consist of community elders, businessmen, youths and other professionals who have all played pertinent part in the inception of the idea and who are all braced to see the attainment of their dream objective. Other strategist will be incorporated by virtue of their indispensable skills or clear willingness to make things come to fruition.

HOW/STRATEGY
CREATING A CULTURAL AND COMPLEX STREAM OF HUTS AND ARENA FOR SPORTING ACTIVITIES. Erection of Sierra Leonean styled huts within unique specifications and obligatory characters. E.g. with toilet facility, kitchen, bar and local beach umbrellas. Creation of a Football and Volley ball arena. Maintaining only entertainment and youth centers e.g. Children Library, art and craft shops, African dress boutiques. The provision of sea sport activities like jet skiing, sight seeing, and canoeing etc.

HOW/STRATEGY

MAKING THE VICINITY A GARDEN OF FLOWERS AND TREES.

Strategist will fund the constructive planting of trees and flowers within the Levuma Beach Community and the surroundings within the beach proper.

A selective variety of trees (The three year variety Coconut trees and Palm trees).

HOW/STRATEGY
CRITERIA FOR DOING BUSINESS IN LEVUMA BEACH

Prospective investors are encourage from the community as well as those who the strategist see fulfill the benchmark for allowing the vicinity to attain its projected picturesque. Individuals with small capital are also encouraged to build supervised huts. These group of individuals will have the sole right to benefit from moneys coming from sponsors or donors. This money shall not be given for any other purpose but for the purpose of investing in their business. Strategist will work closely with the Ministry of Lands and Housing or the Ministry of Tourism , Ministry of Youth and Sports, Education and with specific government units like the private sector development project . This list is not exhaustive, the strategist will also seek the cooperation of the UNDP and other government partners like NGOs. No individual will be allowed to build a permanent structure on the beach. Prospective investors will be charged with the responsibility of cleaning the beach and maintaining its hygiene. Non conformist shall be barred from doing business in the area if they fail to adhere to the rules and regulations set out by the Strategist in liaison with the Government of Sierra Leone.

INPUTS
GOVERNMENT
I. Strategist crave for the indulgence of government to speedily facilitate the reloading of earth on the excavated area done by CSE during the road construction. CSE has not reloaded soil in this area exposing the area to potential danger of erosion and accidents. Government may help in the provision of some desired trees to be planted in the vicinity. Government needs to give the correct mandate to the strategist who will stand in their stead to make the project rhyme with their aspirations in tourism and human development standards. The strategist will also welcome any contributions thought fit by the Government.

II. III.

IV.

Inputs
Strategist I. II. will hold series of meetings geared towards the achievement of their dream. Strategist shall be allowed to erect their dream huts as a way of setting an example to other prospective investors.

III. Packing fee will be collected on weekends with the sole aim of utilizing it for other community development schemes. IV. Contributions will be collected from strategist for the forwarding and advocacy of the project to Government and the planting of Coconut trees and flowers.

CONCLUSION

It is estimated that this project can be accomplished within a short period of time, within a year or few months. We want to reemphasize our zest for Governments indulgence and to incorporate the President of Sierra Leone His excellency the President Ernest Bay Koroma to be one of the first investors who will show his artistic touch by erecting the first complex and thereby becoming a founder strategist of the Levuma Beach Project.