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