Vickie Remoe Institute of Digital Communications

Meet Sierra Leone’s Essential Workers: The Stone Miner

0
437

I’m a 60-year-old stone miner in Freetown. I moved to Freetown 20 years ago, after my husband, who was a soldier, passed. I came here hoping for a better life. Before the pandemic, work was better even though it wasn’t good. I had a couple of customers who would pre-order or wait for customers.

Even with that, I was able to take care of my family’s needs. Business is slower, and the cost of stones has almost doubled, but our prices stay the same. Some days, local authorities harass us and take away our tools. We have to pay them to get them back. I use my earnings to care for my nine children.

Now we can go days without making food. Paying rent is an issue, and my landlord has sent a notice for his money. The work is painful. Some days, I feel pain all over my body, but I can’t quit now because I have nothing else to do. ⁠

Credit: OSIWA/Essential Stories

Follow the Essential Stories Instagram page https://bit.ly/3nnxQy1


Leave a reply

Hey there,
Want some exclusive content straight to your email inbox? Sign up today and join our subscribers.
Hello there
Want some exclusive content straight to your email inbox? Sign up today and join our subscribers.