#ebolafree

Separated from her family in the immediate wake of the Ebola crisis back in December of 2015, Adama Koroma holds her younger sister Salma for the first time in one and a half years. #respect, #humanity, #alive, #streetchild #ebolafree, #lifeofman, #humanist, #decisivemoment, #mankind, #humankind, #freetown, #sierraleone, #socialdocumentary, #education, #wycf, #childrenofebola #ebolafree #resilience #hope #freetown #lifeafterebola #orphan #global_family #humanism #leica #leicam240 #leicacamerausa #leicaakademieusa #weyonechildfoundation (at Freetown, Sierra Leone)

Francis lost both parents to Ebola in December of 2014. Now, You can help Francis achieve his dream of following in his father's footsteps and becoming a photographer himself by donating to this campaign now. AND, added bonus, if you follow the link you can see a slideshow of his work thus far, shot just 2 weeks ago in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This kid is TALENTED! Please check it out, and help this boy, along with hundreds of kids like him, reach for their dreams! #respect, #humanity, #alive, #streetchild #ebolafree, #lifeofman, #humanist, #decisivemoment, #mankind, #humankind, #freetown, #sierraleone, #socialdocumentary, #education, #wycf, #childrenofebola #ebolafree #resilience #hope #freetown #lifeafterebola #orphan #education #global_family #humanism #leica #leicam240 #leicacamerausa #leicaakademieusa #momentaworkshops #seizethemomenta #weyonechildfoundation #followyourdreams #gofundmedonations #wycf #studentphotographer (at Freetown, Sierra Leone)

ADAMA UPDATE: Adama's former family here in Freetown told us they know of a cousin of Adama's named Elizabeth who works at a local market here in Freetown, but they're unsure of which days she tends her stall at the market. After stalking the market for 3 days in a row, on the 3rd day we found Elizabeth. She was very helpful, informing us that it was the brother of her mother, Mary, who had taken Adama back to the village. His wife is the sister of Adama's deceased mother, and they have been caring for Adama in a very remote farm village for the past year. Elizabeth welcomed us to come visit her and her mother at their home in Waterloo, which we did the next day. (A 6 hour journey round-trip.) At the family home, we met with Elizabeth and Mary, pictured here, and Mary informed us that she felt quite certain that Adama had in fact been much happier with her adoptive family in Freetown, and was angry at her brother for taking Adama back to his village. Mary acknowledged that her brother was genuinely trying to do what he thought was best for Adama--As it turns out, he had learned through the grapevine that Adama's adoptive father had not paid the traditional dowry for the marriage, and therefore the uncle did not consider this to be a viable family. However, since that time Adama's uncle and aunt had noticed Adama was very unhappy in the village, but lacked the financial means to return Adama to Freetown. (A 6+ hour journey on public transportation.) Mary informed us she would be happy to bring us to her brother's village, where Adama is now living with her extended family, and see if he would be willing to let Adama return with us to Freetown and rejoin her adoptive family. She also said that the last time she had seen Adama, several months ago, Adama had lost weight and seemed very withdrawn and sad. The plan: we will come to the town of Waterloo in a day to pick up Mary, who will then take us to the village where Adama is now living. Family discussions will hopefully ensue, and we are hopeful we MIGHT be able to bring Adama home, if that is truly what Adama wants...Stay tuned! #socialdocumentary #sierraleone #ebolafree #resilience #hope (at Waterloo, Sierra Leone)

Meet Adama. She lost her mother in childbirth, and her father to Ebola in 2014. Originally from a small village in rural Sierra Leone, she was taken in by a young couple in Freetown who were already expecting their first child. When I met Adama, she was fully ensconced in her new family, a newly proud big sister to the family's first child (pictured with Adama here), and thrilled to be attending school for the first time in her life. In spite of her late start in school, she had top grades in her class and wanted to study to become a doctor. Since then, she was "reclaimed" by extended family in her home village, and removed from her adoptive family against her will. The school tried to track her down, but the new caregivers would not return calls. I return to Sierra Leone tomorrow, and will try my best to find Adama and continue her story. Stay tuned for updates, and more follow-ups on the children I first met a year ago, in my ongoing series "Children of Ebola." #socialdocumentary #sierraleone #ebolafree #resilience #hope #freetown #lifeafterebola #orphan #education #global_family #humanism #leica #leicam #leicacamerausa #leicaakademieusa #momentaworkshops #seizethemomenta (at Freetown, Sierra Leone)

Lumley Beach gymnasts gather on the coast of Freetown, Sierra Leone. #hope, #respect, #humanity, #alive, #ebolafree, #lifeofman, #humanist, #decisivemoment, #mankind, #freetown, #lumleybeach, #sierraleone, #gymnast, #socialdocumentary, #blackandwhite, #leica, #leicam, #monochrome, #picoftheday, #bnw-planet (at Lumley Beach,Sierra Leone,Freetown)

Person: “Oh, um, it’s nice.”

Liberia declared Ebola-free, signaling end to West African epidemic – Reuters was originally published on Health And Fitness Today

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