Sierra Leone News

Posts Tagged ‘diaspora’

Approximately 3 years ago, yesterday, we arrived to live in Freetown on a permanent basis! WooowwwW! Sooo..oo much has happened since then, I’ve learnt a lot and overall, I’m VERY happy we came. We are all happy including the children and we look forward to a brighter future and a better Sierra Leone.

When we came, we arrived into a dark capital with only few lights dotted around on the hills, today light is available almost 24/7! Now, that’s something! And I’m brimming with hope and excitement.

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This is a question posed by one of my visitors and to answer “YES” directly will be difficult as we all have different tastes and needs as well as creature comforts which we may see as a necessity.

To give some perspective – $1400 a month is much more than what 90% of the population earns so straight away you’ll be in the top tier of income earners.

I mean, doctors recently got an upgrade to $600 / month (from $200/month) and Nurses to $200 / month (from $50 / month! I know SHOCKING!!!

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The morning after! I couldn’t even sleep properly.. all I could see was the lost penalty goal that lead to further penalty lossess!!! Twist and turn, twist and turn, had we done this, had we done that… hindsight is always illuminating. A loss is a loss and we lost! 4 years is a loooooooonnnngggg time! Ohhh Ghana!

How could we be so close yet so far!!! Anguish, anguish…my son cried like a baby (he’s 5 years) when the game ended and I must say, I shed tears few myself. He kept asking me why Ghana has been kicked out and for once, I was lost for words. How can one explain a loss so painful?

Well, I’m still proud of the Black Stars! but for me worldcup is over, can’t be bothered who wins now. I can only wait and hope for next time round.

BRAVO Ghana Black Stars! Still flying our Flag High! Long Live GHANA………..

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What can I say but that I had tears in my eyes…. Ghana wins against USA yesterday was so amazing! I expected them to win and when it happened, it brought tears to my eyes!!! LONG LIVE GHANA!!!!!!. We watched all of this in Makeni, Sierra Leone. We came for the weekend and watching it at the hotel bar gave an edge to it as all the American supporter from African Minerals were there to support their team

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It’s been a while since I posted mainly because I’ve been so busy! Anyway, yesterday was double celebration for me – firstly, we welcomed a friend who’s come to stay for good and secondly because Ghana won against Serbia!

It felt really good. In addition, to these 2 pieces of good news, I’m aware of 4 for more Sierra Leoneans coming back from US for good…some have already enrolled their children in my kids school….very excited.

At the end of the day Sierra can only be developped by Sierra Leoneans…. and of course those of us married to them (ha..ha ha….)

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Just came across this and has set me thinking all day….about our African brothers and sisters suffering abroad..

African Immigrants Revolt in Italy (go here to read the full story)

“This event pulled the lid off something that we who work in the sector know well but no one talks about: That many Italian economic realities are based on the exploitation of low-cost foreign labor, living in subhuman conditions, without human rights,” Flavio Di Giacomo, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration in Italy, told the Times.

What is SO bad in Africa that some Africans will rather live in semi-slavery, unwanted, despised and rejected in another man’s country Only tolerated because of the profit you’ll make your boss???

Perhaps you can shed more light on this.(Leave a comment)

The reason why I love the prodigal son story is that, when things got bad HE DID NOT STAY IN THE RUT, he believed that he’d get better treatment in his own home and country and at least some proper food and dignity. And what did he do? He humbled himself and went home.

If you’re reading this and perhaps suffering abroad (may be not to this extent), perhaps it’s time to start thinking about home….

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Today, I woke up and thought I should write this post just to give people (especially Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora) an idea as to what they can do to contribute to the development of our beloved Sierra Leone! By all means, there may be better suggestions. If you have one, feel free to leave your comment.

Now, for you who’s thinking, I’d love to return but whats there for me to do?

First of all think, what have you got? What skills have you got?

• Are you a doctor? A nurse?

You might be thinking, they’ll not be able to pay me. Good, that may be true, but have you thought of setting up your own clinic or hospital that can be used by ordinary people and give you income as well. And perhaps you could partner with other Sierra Leonian doctors or nurses to make this work? To be honest, the health service in Sierra Leone, is the LOWEST of the low. Quite frankly, the poor sanitation PLUS the smell – and this is not just on the streets – but in the hospitals will leave your mouth gaping or rather closed. But you know better, so why can’t you come and help? Or you could come up with and idea / business plan and get the NGO’s on board. I leave that to you.

• Are you an accountant?

An honest one? If so Sierra Leone needs you. If nothing at all you may be able to help to stem the tide of corruption.

• Are you a lawyer?

You could set up a practice and help protect the poor from injustice. I’ve seen several cases where people have been put in jail as a result of somebody’s personal vendetta. Well, if you have no money, you’re bound to stay there for a while.

• Are you a cleaner abroad?

Rising up when everyone one else is sleeping to perform your duties? Why, you can set up a cleaning company here and do very well plus have some dignity as well.

Really, the opportunities here in Salone are endless! You have to come and see for yourself.

• Are you a teacher?

Good. 70% of Sierra Leoneans are illiterate and believe you me, the percentage of the “educated” who are truly literate is even smaller. In fact, some of the teachers here are not qualified themselves let alone teach others. (Believe me, I know a teacher who didn’t finish O’Levels!) Which is why last years SSS results for Sierra Leone were so poor, it’ll make you cry.

There are good schools springing up especially primary. What can you contribute? How about setting up your own school or nursery? Nothing is impossible here.

• Are you unemployed living on government handouts abroad?

Or may be hard times have befallen you? Ask yourself, is there something you can give to Sierra Leone that the UK, America or others don’t necessarily need? Everyone, has got a gift. What is yours? If it’s not needed where you are, wake up, smell the coffee and come home and help.

• Are you a pastor?

In fact, we need you even more desparately. I always wonder why, non-African missionaries came and set up the best schools in Africa. Some even died of malaria. I know because, the missionary school I went to (Wesley Girls High School in Ghana ) was set up by missionaries and some of them paid a HEAVY price – even with their lives! As a pastor, what can you do for Sierra Leone?

Here, here, I’m being blatant about people coming back to help. The fact is, most (not all) Sierra Leonans I met abroad are not doing that great either. It saddens me to see Africans languishing on governement handouts and living in squalor abroad when they could do much better at home knowing that at least they did something for their country.(yes…I may be touching nerves here)

Yeah, you might say, “there’s too much corruption, I have to grease peoples hands in order to start a business…” Well, that may be true, but a trickle of honest people like you coming and standing their ground will change the facts on the ground or very soon you’ll see a president in Sierra Leone who’s foreign ( na lie? – it’s not impossible!!)

Quite frankly, foreigners are making it here so why can’t you? On the plane from England recently, I noticed so many so-called “foreigners” coming? Ask yourself why are they coming? What is here that they coming for? If you see the glass half empty, someone is seeing it half full! While you might winge and come up with all the excuses why not, others are building empires right here in Sierra Leone. And yes, by the time you come, the portion of the pie left for you will be too small and guess what you might go back in frustration.

I’ll stop here…I’ve got more to say but I’ll do that later. I hope this has given you ideas.

Hey,

I’m so happy that AT LAST! I’m able to launch this blog about my life in Sierra Leone. This is a vision I’ve had since January 2008 but due to many factors have not been able to start it but today I woke up and thought, it’s time to put it together   now here I am very excited, indeed! I hope this blog will

• enlighten Sierra Leoneans abroad as to how life really is here.
• encourage the Salone Diaspora, to invest and if possible physically come and make some input into their country.
• be an enjoying read to you the reader
• and finally, enable me to let off steam. Very important!