Fifteen million people live in the Mano River region, comprised of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Forty percent are under the age of fifteen. Fifteen years of war and more than 30 years of poor governance and an unstructured civil society have led to the death of hundreds of thousands of people. Basic infrastructures and modes of production have been plundered or completely destroyed. Populations from more than 21 ethnic groups have been displaced. Moreover, these conflicts have resulted in endless human rights violations. During the height of the conflicts, thousands of children were separated from their families and forced to become child soldiers and/or victims of sexual violence. These conflicts have also led to inappropriate social and economic policies, underemployment and weak access to primary education and other essential services.