April 2023: Traveling, Realizing and Learning

[ssandino]

April 2023 → Subscribe to Monthly Updates

Traveling, Realizing and Learning

written by Aurelie

I just came back from Freetown, where I spent the most impressive week of my life. Really! While some of my colleagues continue to travel around Sierra Leone, I would like to use this newsletter to reflect on my trip and share all that I realized, learned and experienced.

My Week in Freetown

Friday

I learned what it means to be an artist in a city with no art university, no art galleries, no art museums, no art market. You get the point: it’s difficult. It amazed me all the more that they dedicate their lives to the arts no matter the hardship. This is also where Social Income comes in.

Saturday

Did you know that before bills, it was pieces of textiles that were used as currency here? I didn’t. But the day was special for another reason – I finally met our local staff and strong women Mariatu and Mabel. Yes, 100% women make Social Income possible in Sierra Leone!

Sunday

I learned how flexible you have to be as a business woman in Sierra Leone. Within a year you can easily change your job from roasting and selling peanuts to making bracelets and dying textiles.

Monday

I learned that solidarity goes a long way amongst recipients and their community. Some recipients in extreme poverty share more than half of their income with close ones who would not survive otherwise. It almost seemed that the less you have, the more you share, which made me doubt that my 1% is enough.

Tuesday

I learned that meetings can start with an uplifting performance of song. Another education: the stigma attached to epilepsy, how hard it is to live with the illness, and how easy it would be to live without seizures (if you can afford the medicine).

Wednesday

What is a fair selection process for recipients? It’s challenging to have a selection process that focuses on the neediest, but factors out tensions and favoritism. There is no one fits all solution – it needs constant adjustments and a close dialog with the local community.

Thursday

I learned that you can fit 30 people in a minibus, and motorbikes are made to transport 4 adults, 1 child and 2 water canisters, at least. Now that I am back in Switzerland I miss the hustle and bustle of the public transportation in Sierra Leone. On the next tram, I might just go up to two seated passengers and ask if I can sit in between them.

In short: social change can occur when people unite.

Our World in Data

Numbers that made us think and wonder:

Stat of the month

101%

There are more phones than people in Sierra Leone.

Our World in News

Stories that made us think and wonder:

• San Francisco joins NYC by implementing unconditional Direct Cash Transfers that help young people to exit homelessness. (SF.gov)
• In Ireland, a pilot programme is giving 2,000 artists $350 a week with no strings attached, allowing them to concentrate on creative pursuits. (The New York Times)
• The moving story of a pregnant young woman receiving unconditional cash transfers. (Next City)
• In Haiti, aid organizations continue to face troubles when providing fintech-based aid, as there are many technical glitches and widespread allegations of corruption. (Rest of World)
• What happened to Sierra Leone’s children of war? A moving, must-hear podcast catches up with survivors that foughtin the war as kids. (BBC)

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