Global Voices Online

Last weeks' torrential rains triggered disastrous floodings (Fr), killing 159 people and affecting over 600,000 in a dozen Western Africa countries, unprepared to face seasonal rains growing heavier and heavier. (See map). Afropages (Fr) describes the situation in Conakry, Guinea's capital.

Amie Kandeh, the IRC’s gender-based violence prevention coordinator in Sierra Leone, talks about how her team works to give thousands of women and girls back their sense of hope, belonging and self-respect.

It has been one year now since last year’s elections in Sierra Leone. Nasratha tries to assess the differences between the new and the old regime.

No money, no doctor, writes a Sierra Leone based blogger, Sandra: “Last week I saw a little boy who was moderately sick. He had lost weight, had many palpable lymph nodes and a chest infection. I decided to treat as outpatient with a strong antibiotic and see the child again on Wednesday…”

Wanted in Sierra Leone: Movie Stars!, “The search for new movie stars has kicked off in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown last weekend. The programme dubbed “The Next Movie Star” aims at discovering future actors and actresses in the West Africa region. Two people would be selected to represent Sierra Leone.”

Naijagal comments on the work of Sierra Leonan designer Adama Kargbo, who returned to her country after studying in the US to create a fashion line called Aschobi (photos included in the post). She says: “Sierra Leone isn't the first place you'd think of finding couture, but the country is changing”.

Switsalone introduces the person behind Aschobi Designs in Sierra Leone: “Adama Kargbo is a 24yr old Sierra Leonean-American recent graduate of Parsons School of Design (Paris, France). She has recently returned to Sierra Leone from New York City to launch her first collection; ASCHOBI DESIGNS. This collection gives a modern twist to vintage 1960s African couture. Although she could have launched her collection anywhere, Adama chose her ancestral home as the birth place of ASCHOBI because of her unshakeable conviction in the rebirth and redevelopment of this country.”

Paul writes about an industrial project in Sierra Leone: “Binkolo Growth Centre is a small industrial project near Makeni where the manufacture of small farm implements, tailoring, carpentry and blacksmithing takes place, and includes the use of disabled people. I am assisting with the expansion of the centre to include food processing of local cassava and palm oil products. One of the Makeni City Councilors is the manager of the Binkolo Growth Centre and I think this project has good prospects for success.”

From School for Sierra Leone Project blog: “The Voice of Sierra Leone Association wants to start by supporting a school by buying furniture, toilets and schoolmaterials. After this they plan to build a school and a clinic in an area where there is no education and healthcare for children at the moment”