Matthew Herridge and Harry Simpson spent the spring term in Sierra Leone, contributing variously to Biology provision in Lumley and Rolal, ‘medical services’ in Maronka, teaching assistance in the Eagles and Flamingoes classes.
They got stuck in at every level and lived the village life, washing with a bucket and cup in the palm branch wash yard, having a couple of hours of electricity a day (unless the generator is down or fuel runs out!), no vehicle and the nearest cold beers at the end of a very hot dusty 3 mile walk, eating their rice or gari with spicy sauce each day, washing their clothes in the swamp and so on. That is not so much the challenge. The challenge is all of that and still having plenty to give. What makes it possible, of course, is the wonderful warm welcome, the generosity and the enthusiasm for all development that we experience when living in the communities that we work in.
Matt’s photos give a flavour for what they were up to: https://picasaweb.google.com/105078474540899492247/MaronkaPortLoko?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGa9LKMj-zREQ&feat=email#
If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid’s work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com