For Zainab Bangura,who lives in Newton Village, attending Empowering Children School is life changing. Education was not possible for her, like her parents and grandparents before her. Without the ability to read and write, there are few employment opportunities and no chance to change their circumstances. Families are caught in an endless cycle of poverty. Zainab’s family farms for income and food. SHARP supports farmers with seed and tool loans, and training.
Recently Ibrahim Kamara had the opportunity to visit Zainab in her home and spend some time talking with her. Zainab lives with her aunt and uncle, and their 5 children. All 5 of Zainab’s cousins go to Empowering Children School as well. After school and on weekends Zainab helps her family farm. Zainab has responsibilities with taking care of the animals.
Zainab is in the 6th grade, but does not know how old she is.
When asked, she replied, “I do not know my age.” For families in remote areas of rural Sierra Leone, mothers give birth at home as they are too far from a clinic. Parents are not able to read or write, so the births are not recorded. Amongst all their other responsibilities, parents forget as time passes. Therefore, most children here do not know their age or birthdays. As they grow older and encounter situations where a birthdate is needed, families make a good guess. This is just one of many reasons why education is so important for these children.
Zainab says she is happy to be going to school, and happy to be learning. Before Empowering Children School came to Newton Village, she attended a school in town briefly. She was not able to continue going because the distance was too far and her family does not have transportation. Zainab has goals for her future, now that she can see opportunities. Zainab wants to be a nurse. She enjoys socializing with her friends at school and playing different games, especially ball games. Zainab’s favorite subject is social studies. Zainab says she is happiest when she is at school. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn, and realizes the impact this will have on her life.
Children In Newton Village speak a local dialect, most speak Temne and Krio.
Although these languages are a part of their culture and important for them to speak, because they are local to the area it is isolating for them and limits their opportunities as adults. English is taught at Empowering Children School, and Zainab is learning the language. This is one of the main reasons we have children begin school with us in pre-k. Younger children are able to learn languages much more easily. For these children, the ability to speak 3 languages gives them a better chance at becoming a successful adult.
Children living in poverty face many challenges. As the children in the village come together at school, teachers and administrators are learning about their lives and the difficulties they face. Hunger is a big problem in the village, as it is for much of the country of Sierra Leone. Adults who cannot earn an income or feed their families often become so hopeless and discouraged that they abandon their children. Zainab was abandoned as a young child, and found wandering around. Her mother’s brother and his wife took her in. Despite the hardships that are part of their daily life, there are many very good people, like Zainab’s aunt and uncle, who care for children that are not their own.
Zainab spoke with Ibrahim about her greatest challenge.
Her greatest challenge is that there is no one at home who can help her study. She did not lisit hunger as a challenge. It is something children here have always lived with, as a part of their daily life.
To break out of the cycle of poverty and have opportunities to earn an income and feed themselves, education is absolutely essential. We are committed to providing a quality education with 21st century skills that will enable the children we serve to pursue their goals and dreams. It is our mission that each child will be able to feed themselves and their families, and not have to live with hunger. This is also why we support farm families with seed and tool loans, and with sustainable agriculture training.