Mikko Takkunen | Photographer

SIERRA LEONE: Portraits

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.
  
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.
   
Abigail Blackie, 28. She was abducted by the RUF during decade long Sierra Leone civil war, but managed to escape. She now studies at the 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.
     
  
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.
   
Gebrila Bangura, 25. The Bangura family was captured by the Mende tribe camajon militias during the war, as Bangura family are of the Timini tribe. His father died during the war. He now lives with his uncle, who is a diamond miner, in Bo, and he studies at the 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.
   
Amie Kollie, 65. Tens of thousands of Liberians entered Sierra Leone in 2001-2002 to escape conflict in their homeland. The refugees were taken to camps such as Jimmy Bagbo in south eastern Sierra Leone, which at one point provided refuge to thousands of Liberians. However, majority of Liberian refugees have since left Sierra Leone. Only a few hundred remain in Jimmy Bagbo. People who have decided to stay have various reasons for doing so, some have Sierra Leonese partners, whereas others might not have any relatives left in Liberia to go back to. Mrs. Amie Kollie, 65, from Vanama, Lofa County, north Liberia. Mrs. Kollie entered Sierra Leone in 2002 and was brought to Jimmy Bagbo by the UN. She says, she feels too old to return and there is nobody left in Vanama for her anyway.
     
  
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.
  
Massah Rogers. She studies in 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.
   
Sallay Kollier,39, 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.
     
  
Mr Shaku Bockari . He is one of the adult literacy class participants in Largo, southern Sierra Leone.