Ebola outbreak causing decline in cattle sales approaching Eid

 The sales of cattle in Sierra Leone is expected to decline approaching the Muslim feast of Eidul Adha. This decline has been blamed on the Ebola outbreak that has forced authorities to ban all public gathering including the traditional sara (sacrifice) done on Eidul Adha as a fulfilment of one of the pillars of Islam. "By this time last year, many people were coming to buy sheep but this year it has been a different case. Sales has been very slow. I hope by the time the pray day finally comes, more customers will come."

Residents of Freetown fetching water from a broken pipe

Residents in Freetown in the Western area of Sierra Leone have to grapple with the daily reality of water shortage. This situation has become a very serious situation over the last decade with a massive urbanisation to the Western area that followed the end of the country's war. The Guma valley water dam at mile thirteen was to cater for a population slightly over 900,000 but that number has multiplied without any possible solution to meet the increase in population.  People in rural communities of the country do suffer too due to the absence of pipe borne water. Additionally, most water wells in rural Sierra Leone lack the necessary purification for a clean drinking water. 

Sierra Leone comedians promote soap that could prevent Ebola

Comedians on the Streets of Freetown promote a soap (liquid and in sachets) and the message is the soap could help in the prevention of the Ebola spread.

seaweeds cover Sierra Leone's Lumley beach

In the midst of the Ebola outbreak that has hit Sierra Leone and her neighbours in West Africa, Brown seaweeds have covered one of Sierra Leone's most beautiful beaches; the Lumley beach. While this is a serious environmental issue, the government and its partners are very busy developing strategies to fight one of its worse health disaster so far. However, it is important for environmental authorities and their stakeholders to start planning means of ridding off the  the seaweeds from the beach. Environmental agencies should do this alongside businesses along the beach.  Sooner the health issue is resolved, Sierra Leone will gain back its status in tourism. 

Sierra Leonean youths creating jobs for themselves

Sierra Leonean youths are creating jobs for themselves with the growing awareness of the limited job opportunities in the country.  " I am 23 years old. I have been washing cars for 1 year 11 months. I am happy because I am earning an honest income. I don't have money to further my education but at least I can take care of my basic needs. I charge between le 15,000 to le 20,000 depending on the size of the vehicle. I charge more for bigger vehicles. I am never shot of customers.  At least one or more will come in a day. The job is so very much fulfilling and give me so much satisfaction within. I look forward to it everyday. I hope to establish my own car wash centre one day. Thanks to you."

Ebola outbreak boosts bitter kola sales

Following reports that the local fruit bitter kola is on a clinical trial in a USA laboratory to cure the deadly Ebola virus, there has been a boost in the sales of bitter kola. This retailer is using the good news to woo customers from all ages and all walks of life in Sierra Leone where the virus has killed over a hundred people. "I sell bitter kola. It cures Ebola. You know the disease kills. Prevention is better than cure. If you buy my bitter kola you wont even contract the virus. I am not happy about the disease because it is a killer but I am pleased that the sales of my bitter kola has gone up. The price has also shot up from le 200 to le 500. I love doing retail business because I meet a lot of people and I laugh a lot. We the retailers did not put the price up. Its came from the wholesalers. I pray that God free our region from this disease even though it has boost sales of my bitter kola. Hehehe. Thank you.  Kikiki"

Sierra Leone: Water crisis is a big issue for many residents

"Please don't bother me with many questions. I am carrying water home for the family. We have been without water for days now even though this is the rainy season. Thank you"

Lungi teenager drains chicken fat to eat garri

Sometimes life can be really hard for some people. This teenager  from Lungi in Sierra Leone and who prefers not to have his face shown is draining fat from chicken which he uses to eat garri (gratered cassava).

"I am draining this fat to eat with my garri because I cant afford to buy cooking oil. I dont go to school. I have never been to school. Well even if its not healthy for me it is what I have for now. Life is not always going to be positive. Well I have nothing to do now but sometimes I do work for people and get paid. I carry their load for them from the bus stop to their houses and sometimes help them do some house work like laundry and washing dishes. Sometimes I do work for cookery shops and get paid. Well I hope things will get better for me one. One must never say never, isn't it. Thank you"

Building Construction Labourers carrying granites at a site in Sierra Leone

At a construction site in Sierra Leone

"I have been doing this job for like three years now. This job is hard job and the pay is not too good and sometimes we get really sick as a result of the hard job. As you can see now we are carrying granites for the building work. You can also see how tedious this is. Well if we get accident at work we have to take care of ourselves except if we are lucky to get a good contractor, he will pay our hospital bill and incur every other cost. It is always a good time when we have a big construction or site work because the size of the job will determine the amount of money we earn; the bigger the job, the higher the pay. Well my aim is to earn huge sum and start a family and give my children the quality of life I never had. Thank you very much"

Young men offloading a truck filled with building blocks at Bathurst Village, Sierra Leone

Young men offloading a truck filled with building blocks at the Western Peninsular village of Bathurst are sceptical about their future.

Offloading a truck filled with building blocks

"This job is not much about how pleased we are or how unhappy we are but the fact that we are able to do something that earns us money even though its not that easy. There is nothing sweet about our job. However, we get excited sometimes when we work for people who give us tips apart from our pay because as you know its not an easy ride for us. Well some of us would like to find another job elsewhere even though it is difficult to find one. I will continue staying in this job maybe one day things will get better. I can't rule out the possibility of a better day to come. Thank you"

Granite Breaking: a popular trade at the Western Area Peninsular of Sierra Leone

Granite Breaking is a very popular trade among young people of the Freetown Peninsular communities. With the housing boom taking place in that part of the Western area, it is common to see people of different ages involving in the trade.

Youths Breaking Granites at the Freetown Peninsular

 "Granite breaking is quite a difficult job but this is what we have for now. It involves a lot of body work and sometimes left us with severe body aches and scarred hands. Sometimes our families join us in the work and the most exciting moment is when buyers buy in large quantity for a good price; higher than the normal selling price. This we normally achieved after intense negotiations. Otherwise we don't gain much for the amount of energy and time we put into it. But on the whole we are pleased we have something to do and we are looking forward to a brighter future. Thank you"

Youths of Freetown cleaning their city

 "We are happy to do this work, this keeps us away from being idle and at the same time we are getting employed. After work, I am going to relax and watch the World Cup. We need more jobs for the youths. Thanks very much"

Agriculture students of Njala University on a vegetable planting project

Agriculture students of Njala University on a vegetable planting project at the University's Campus in Southern Sierra Leone. "The course is not that difficult. I find it extremely interesting. My dream is to continue working in the field of agriculture after University. The most interesting part of the course is field work, working in the farm. Farming is a very prolific area even though most people are shying away. Most of my fellow young people have been intoxicated with the idea of working in the office but farm work is the best. I am planting cucumber and my colleagues are planting watermelon. So far i have not had any memorable moment because I am only in year one and looking forward to the course. The cucumber takes three months and we will come back in August to harvest. Thank you very much"

Life working as a Play Station Owner

"Life working as a play station owner is like yeast and bread (Rise and fall), sometimes good and sometimes very slow. It is a very hard job as I have to be in the same place all the time. As much as I appreciate it, I would prefer otherwise. I have been in the gaming trade for two years now. It is a very profitable game because they pay 500 leones and the game lasts for only 4 minutes. 

Youth busy playing a game

The major issue with this business is the intermittent power supply. sometimes my station go without power for days and I have to use generator and you also know the issue with fuel as well. sometimes the price is high and sometimes low. I am thankful for I have been able to feed myself from this job. My customers are mainly youths and some young adults.

Game is not only fun but keeps the youths away from being deviants to society

The giant Play Station TV

I have my own PS3 console at home. Besides I am employed and at full time. I have a PS2 at the station because the PS3 is very expensive and its best I keep it at home. I am happy when there is electricity because it saves me costs. Thank you"

Play Station owner relax in his station

Hair braiding in Sierra Leone

"Hair braiding is my job. It is the only job I do and I am able to make enough to take care of myself. When I finished my secondary education, my Parents could not afford for me to pursue my education to tertiary level. I realised I have a talent in braiding hair and I decided to pursue it as a trade. I have not gone to any cosmetic school yet to get certified but I intend to in the future. 

Hair Braiding is very common in Sierra Leone

Sometimes, I plait between three and five people a day. I hardly do boy's hair because most do not braid. I love the trade. I meet a lot of people and gain a lot from their experiences. Sometimes I go to my customer's houses if they are unable to come to mine. I love it when I go to their houses because it always costs more. I will encourage other women who finds it hard to get a job to search their inner self for their talent and pursue it. It is very satisfying. Thank you"

Hair braiding is a form of beauty enhancer for most Sierra Leonean ladies

Sierra Leonean children and their rights to play

Growing up as a child, we can all remember playing in the fields, on our compound or in the back yard. Every child has a right to play.  These Sierra Leonean children gather as they play a circle game called 'Akra'..Lets the children play. 

Children gather as they play 'Akra'

Akra is played by mostly girls. Seldom boy do join in the game but because they are mostly laughed at for being feminine, most boys shy away.

Playing is a good form of exercise for children

Akra is played by using both hands and feet. when a girl's turn is reached, she is expected to sing a song, clapping hands and stamping their feet. The purpose is for one of the girls in the circle to have a matching foot with that of the girl in the middle towards the end of the song.  

You cant claim to have grown up in Sierra Leone and not to have played Akra

 Once this is achieved, the successful girl in the circle will swap spaces with the girl in the middle. The girls in the circle will stand according to the number of points each has achieved. The girl with the highest point always stands at the right hand edge of the circle.

Busy playing balance ball

Apart of Akra, there is another game children play called 'Balance Ball'. It is played in a rectangular field. Both girls and boys do play 'Balance Ball'. As the name implies, while two members of one team will stand on each equal side of the field, the other team members are expected to balance a ball made with old socks. The team on the sides of the field will keep throwing the ball at the team in the middle until one of them is hit and then the teams will swap positions.

This girl runs away from the ball

Playing is not only fun but it is a very good form of exercise that helps in the physical and mental development of the child.

Sierra Leonean mechanic speaks on his input to his country's Economy

"Life is nothing without my job. I have worked for some very important people in this country. I love my job because it gives me a rare satisfaction. People others adore come here, I work for them and they appreciate me so very much. 

A busy Freetown mechanic locally called 'Fitter'

For me, this job is like my family. I have made some friends through this job that I now consider as my family. No matter what people think of mechanics, we are also making meaningful contribution to this country's economy. 

'This job is like my family'- he said

I will encourage others to do this job because with this job, you are always employed. I hope to own my own garage one day."

Being a retailer in Sierra Leone

"I have been a retailer for about eight years. I thank God for this business for it has been able to upkeep me and my children since I lost my husband. 

A Sierra Leonean retailer busy in her home stall

I have only been able to pay their school fees and take care of other expenses, I am also taking care of my aged Mom from this business. I have also been able to buy a one town lot which I intend to develop in the future.

She packs the commodies as she prepares for the day activities

However, it is difficult to grow for petty traders like me because of the huge family burden hanging over most of us. Besides that the lack of price control and inflation severely affect our chances to grow as a business.

A packed full home stall, common in Sierra Leone

I intend to grow and one day become a wholesaler."

Remembering the Day of the African Child

As we approach June 16 celebrating the Day of The African child and marking the 1976 school children massacre in South Africa with the 2014 theme “A child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa" and as we remember the over 200 school girls abducted in Nigeria, Humans of Sierra Leone visited an Islamic primary school in Sierra Leone wherein the kids are also benefiting from Western education.

The children gather for the morning assembly

These beautiful photographs of the children in the school should remind Africa and the world of the importance and beauty of education. Most of us have walked through this path and we are what we are today because of education. 

The children listen to their head teacher as a teacher looks on

Attentively, they watched through the camera

Humans of Sierra Leone would have been a lost dream without education. So we want to congratulate all the African children on this year's Day of The African Child and also to thank the teachers and people in the education sector for bringing light to the lives of especially young children.

Assembly time, the smart beautiful children listen attentively