Sara Kamara was born in 2003 and he is one of a family of 2 children. His family is Christian and they speak Limba. Sara and his family's home is made of mud walls with a corrugated tin roof.
The armed conflict caused major devastation to families living in Kono, a diamond rich part of Sierra Leone. More than three quarters of all the buildings in Kono were destroyed, including all the schools, but communities have worked hard to erect makeshift classrooms. Illiteracy is very high - 98% in some communities. Girls make up just 10% of the children in schools. Sara is too young to go to school.
Diamond mining is a main source of income, but very little of the proceeds actually comes to the community. So many families rely on agriculture for income. Crops are grown for food and sale, including rice (the staple food), cassava, maize and vegetables. Coffee and cocoa are the main cash crops. Food shortages are most common between May and September.
Little more than 3% of families have access to safe drinking water. Most is collected from contaminated streams, rivers and unprotected wells. Waterborne diseases are very common. Doctors are all based in the nearest big town, Koidu, which is 14-40km away from the villages. Many people resort to using local herbalists or traditional healers.
Women are overburdened with both domestic and agricultural work, and enlist the help of their daughters to help them cope. This means they have no time for education or to be involved in decision-making. Traditionally men dominate their wives, and they have few rights in the household or community.
Our programmes will help them to access food, income, education, healthcare, safe water, rebuild their homes and communities and raise the status of women and girls. With your support, we can give children like Sara a better future. |
