Meet Sierra Leone’s Essential Workers: The House Help

After my dad passed away in 2017, I decided to provide for my family, pay for my school fees, and become the breadwinner. I’m 25 years old. That’s when my journey of being a house help started. My family faced many hardships, and my mom wasn’t making much profit from her business. 

Life was easy before the COVID-19 pandemic. Things were normal at school and work. At the end of every month, I used to buy half a rice bag, save some cash to pay rent, pay my school fees, and my younger siblings’. Some days I gave money to my mom so she could boost her small business.    

Before the pandemic, I was in my final secondary school; the country registered its first case just a few weeks before our exams. We had to close and keep track of the academic work; I had to take extra classes.  work in the morning, go to class in the evenings, and then go home and study. 

Prices of goods went up, and now I can no longer afford to buy half a rice bag; I can only buy per cup. A year from now, I expect some improvement in my life, and I can further my education.  

Credit: OSIWA/Essential Stories

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