“Without education, my future would be more difficult”

Sightsavers project officer Eric Musa visits 16-year-old Marie at her home in Karene district in northern Sierra Leone to find out how she’s getting on during COVID-19, after receiving support from our Education for All project.

Marie was among the first set of children supported through the project, which works to ensure children with disabilities – especially girls, who are more often excluded from education and experience different societal pressures and barriers – are able to attend school and achieve their full potential.

Marie was born blind and comes from a large family with six sisters and seven brothers. Her parents primarily work as farmers. In 2008, she moved in with her aunt, also called Marie, who supported her to attend a specialist school for blind children in a neighbouring district in 2009. Later, she enrolled at a mainstream school alongside children with and without disabilities, in her home district.

“After visiting my brother [Marie’s father] in 2008 I noticed the level of neglect Marie was facing, [so] I asked him to allow me to bring her to stay with me,” Marie’s aunt explains. “Over the years we have been living together, Marie has been a source of inspiration to many children within the community and especially my kids. Her zeal and strong commitment in school have been deeply admired by so many.”

COVID-19 has caused schools to close in Sierra Leone, so I met Marie at her home. She was sitting outside with her teacher Alusine, compiling the notes taken from lessons delivered through the national radio education programme. She tells me: “Ever since I moved from my parents’ house to stay with my aunt, her support and encouragement have been my inspiration. Going to school is something I like doing because I strongly believe that education is the key to success. I have accepted the challenge to be educated; since I am blind, without education, my future would be more difficult.”

“My schooling would have been more difficult over the past five years without this support,” Marie adds. As part of the Education for All project, she tells us that she has been given assistive and learning materials including a white cane, a typewriter, coloured card and A4 paper, audio recorders and batteries; and hygiene kits which include sanitary pads, bathing soaps, toothpaste, brush, towels, anti-perspirants and hand sanitisers. And as her school has been closed due to COVID-19, she has also been given handwashing buckets, soap, and a radio set and one packed battery.

Marie mentions she loves football and is her favourite game because it helps people to stay fit and healthy. She also tells me her aspirations: “I want to be become a lawyer in the future,” she explains, “as this will help me to advocate and fight for an equal world where everyone is considered.”

Having learned of Marie’s commitment to studying and her determination to succeed, I ask her aunt how the support Marie’s receiving is making a difference. “Supporting and providing food basic necessities to keep Marie in school and make her happy remain my priority,” she explains. “But my low financial strength remains my greatest difficulty in meeting all her needs.

“The support has reduced the stress and burden I normally faced when schools are about to resume. It’s helped ensure Marie’s education continues. We are indeed grateful for all you have done for her.

“I want to see Marie become successful and be able to take care of herself, her younger sisters and brothers and me when I am old.”