Flashback Thursday: 2007 Trip to Africa

Thought I'd use this Flashback Thursday to showcase my January 2007 Trip to my home country of Sierra Leone where me and another young Sierra Leone mom traveled back to deliver school and sustenance supplies to poor school children. Our organization is partnering with several Western world doctors, nurses and an International NGO to host a series of clinics to screen for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol this December. Contact me if you 'd like to donate supplies or funds. We chose those diseases b/c those are the ones that can be controlled through diet and exercise for people in a poor population. We hope our efforts extend the lives of a few people who may suffer an early demise but for a diagnosis of their condition. Some with extreme cases will be treated on the spot and/or referred for more intensive treatment. Enjoy the photo Essay:This is a busy Freetown street taken from the window of out taxi. We were fortunate to charter a taxi for our entire 14 day stay. The city had a population explosion following the 10 year civil war where many of those in the villages were targets of amputations, rape, torture and murder by a band of vigilante soldiers armed with "blood diamond" fueled weapons. Those who fled to the safer Capitol liked city life so much that they never returned to their villages.This is my favorite building in Freetown. I love the blue glass panes. It is Rokel International Bank.
This is the famous cotton tree, planted in the center of Freetown upon its founding. The city was originally established as a British settlement for former slaves in the 1700s hence the name "Freetown". In fact, many African Americans are direct decedents of Sierra Leoneans as they were shipped off of Bunce Island off the coast of Sierra Leone some hundreds of years ago. The tree is fading from pollution and decay. The exhaust and fumes and industrial gases in the capital are noxious, so much so that I have to tie a bandanna around my face to navigate those streets. so sad. :(
This is one of my favorite photo of school children who had gathered at a glass pane-less window to have their picture taken. These kids were at one of several schools we visited and distributed supplies to...
This Muslim school is made of bamboo-shoots! imagine! What to do when it rains? This was the first day of school here. We went to a school made of corrogated metal and our driver said, this is good, you should see the bamboo schoot school and that's how we got here and then when we left, someone else said, "shoot, this is good, you should check out the school where the teachers and the students gather under a tree!" yikes!
This is the fortress United States Embassy that sits high in the hills. After the war, the United States never felt comfortable again to be nestled in the heart of the city serving as a symbol if its presence in the tiny country. This fortress cost $50 million to builf and was a shot in the arm of the fragile economy as it was built by Sierra Leoneans and with Sierra Leonean companies.
My partner N. S and I (left) managed to get out and enjoy the vibrant night life in the town.

This is the famous indoor/outdoor Paddy's Beach Bar that even stayed open during the war. Check out that long weave on that sister. The DJ spun a mix of African, Sierra Leonean and international hip hop and reggae artists. It was a refreshing to hear so many indigenous artists. This is the helicopter we took back from on our way home. Visitors that land on the airport which sits on a peninsula off the coast, but take either hovercraft (which is no longer operable), the helicopter or the ferry, which most people use b/c it is cheaper. We learned that recently learned that one of the helicopters crashed this summer killing all 20 passengers aboard including the Togolese soccer team and its coaches. Guess who will be going back to taking the Ferry next time she goes home?
So we spotted this baboon dancing out the back of a truck going down this very narrow back alley street. You should have seen all the locals chasing the truck, totally amused. I went into tourist mode and took a pic.

My friend went to this school Annie Walsh Secondary which is one of the best, exclusive girl schools in the country. The morning school for the younger students (the girls to the left) were out and the afternoon session for the older girls (in the hats) was just about to start session.
In the village, we spotted this woman toting this heavy load of sticks. It's the same everywhere, the women work hard as anything!
Western culture infiltrated the villages. Check out the rasta-headed boy wearing Old Navy.
With the nearest bus stop miles away, these folks hoof it. It's no wonder the villagers are more fit than city dwellers. Also, the air is cleaner in the villages as there isn't as much pollution.
This is me and N.S. interviewing teachers and a principal at a local school and assessing their needs for subsequent trips.