A Chapter of PEN International, connecting writers around the world. Our mission is to promote social change through engagement with reading and writing and the world of ideas and to create an environment where there is freedom of expression and exchange of ideas for all sections of society.
In an anthology titled ‘Book of Voices’ written in support of Sierra Leone PEN and edited by the founder and first Executive Secretary of PEN Sierra Leone, Mike Butscher, in 2005, the rationale for the formation of PEN CENTRE, Sierra Leone is succinctly captured as follows:
“After the civil war in Sierra Leone, a national reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration process started in 2000. However, Sierra Leonean writers, who have contributed immensely to documenting the history, literature and culture of the country, have not benefited from any national programmes.
In order to stop the rapid decline of literary interest, and reduce the exodus of writers, Sierra Leone PEN, a non-profit organization that was formally readmitted as a full-fledged member of International PEN at Ohrid, Macedonia in September 2002, was launched in Freetown on 13 May 2003.”
PHOTOS
