Mikko Takkunen | +447853146309 | mikko@mikkotakkunen.com | London

PROJECTS: Sierra Leone

   
Fatmata Kamara, 20. Fatmata lost both her parents during the war. She never went to school, and is learning to read and write at he Vocational Tailoring Training Centre (VTTC) in Bo. The centre offers year long workshops for young people affected by the war, many of whom lost their parents and some of whom have lived on the streets.
   
     
  
   
Diamond pit owner Mr Umaru Jalloh shows off the green diamonds which he will eventually sell to the diamond dealers in Bo.
  
The miners spend the dry season gathering gravel which is later washed to find the diamonds.
     
  
Despite working long hours, the miners can only afford a very simple lunch, in this case raw cassava root with red palm oil.
   
The gravel is being washed in order to find the diamonds. The miners will only get paid when some of the precious stones are found.
  
Miners clearing gravel to make a washing pit. Almost everything is done by hand.
     
  
Adult literacy class in Largo.
   
  
     
  
After the Sierra Leone civil war ended in 2002, Fatmata Sheriff, now 20, ended up living on the streets of Bo and prostituting herself to make a living. Three years ago she became pregnant by one of her clients and she gave birth to her daughter, Precious. After Precious' birth Fatmata managed to find a place where the two could stay and in the spring of 2008 she was about to finish a 12 month long hairdressing workshop in Bo, in the hope of gaining a profession and being able to support herself and Precious.
   
  
Fatmata Sannoh studies weaving at WAGA (War Affected Girls and Adults) in Bo, meant for people who suffered greatly during the decade long Sierra Leone civil war which ended in 2002.
     
  
   
The daughter of the Jagitay family photographed under torchlight in the small border town of Gbindi, not far from Guinea. The town has now electricity, as do not most places outside the couple biggest cities, and after nightfall people have to use candles, lanterns, and torches in order to see.
  
Adult literacy class in Gbindi. It often takes adults years to become literate, as family responsibilities make it difficult to have classes more than once or twice a week. The fact that a lot of students have difficulties even holding a pen properly, speaks volumes of the long struggle towards literacy.
     
  
   
Adult literacy class in session.