Lisa Up Country

Freetown is wonderful, very lively and always something happening - it’s a big city.  But, to see the ‘real’ Sierra Leone, I think it’s important to travel out of the capital and see where and how people actually live.

In April Peace Child Sierra Leone traveled to Potoru in Pujehun District.  Potoru is a big town (but extremely small by my western standards).  It’s situated in the south east corner of the country, not far from the Liberian boarder.  The town has no running water; no electricity but does has mobile phone reception!  Potoru has a primary and secondary school, a health center and market, everything the community needs.  PCSL traveled there to carry out two projects.  One on HIV/AIDS and the other on women’s rights and political participation.  These were both extremely successful and gave the “pomwee’s” (white person in Mende) the opportunity to meet and talk to different member of the community. 

Life up-country is at a slow pace.  Things happen when they happen, something sometimes very frustrating for us ‘westerners’.  Life is also hard work, to get water you need to take your bucket, walk to a well; this could be up to a few hundred meters away.  You need to pump till your bucket is full, and then carry it either on your head (local style) or in your hands (pomwee style) back to your home.  Imagine every time you wanted to wash, do laundry, clean, cook or have a drink, this is the process you need to follow.  I even saw some women with babies strapped to their back and a bucket of water on their heads, these Salone women are tough and extremely strong!

If you have every wanted to feel like a celebrity, just spend some time in the provinces.  Within minutes of arriving everyone knew my name they wanted to say hi and know how I was.  I was given an African name for my time up-country so was therefore only known to the people of Potoru as Bintu Kamara!  The children were a wonderful part of the experience; they would chase and follow me everywhere I went.  If my camera was ever out you would hear cheers of “snap me, snap me” from everyone, young and old.  These cheers would continue until every person’s picture was taken.  It was great fun and an experience I would never get at home.

Music and dancing is another part of Sierra Leonean culture which is embraced up-country.  Music is not even needed sometime, just someone clapping their hands and everyone would be dancing.  Salone children are born with rhythm and the ability to dance.  Something this white girl found awkward and embarrassing, but also extremely fun!

Traveling up-country was a wonderful experience. The people I met there made me feel so welcome and at home.  It’s another wonderful experience I can add to my time in Sierra Leone.