By Hassan Osman Kargbo
In Freetown, poverty is everywhere, making it hard for many families to survive on even a small daily income. Mariama Jimmy, a single mother of two who live at upper Caulker Street, Wellington, knows this struggle well. Her husband died two years ago, leaving her to provide for her children alone. With few options, she turned to stone mining, a physically demanding job usually done by men.
“I have no choice,” Mariama said. “If I don’t work, my children will go hungry. I must do whatever it takes to survive.”
Stone mining is tough work, requiring strength and energy. For Mariama, it is exhausting, but she continues because her children’s survival depends on it. Her story is not unique. Across Sierra Leone, many families face the same struggle, forced into hard and sometimes dangerous labor to make ends meet.
For households like Mariama’s, daily earnings barely cover basic needs such as food, healthcare, and school fees. As the main caregiver, she balances physically demanding work with raising her children. Despite the challenges, she keeps going, motivated by the hope of a better life for her family.
The situation has worsened recently due to an increase in fuel and gas prices. This rise makes daily life even harder for low-income families, affecting everything from cooking to transportation. “Everything is getting more expensive,” Mariama explained. “The little I earn is barely enough for food and other needs. The price increase makes life even harder.”
Mariama’s story shows the urgent need for support. Social programs, job creation, and better access to education and healthcare can help families escape poverty. Without action, more people risk being trapped in hardship, forced to rely on exhausting work to survive.
Despite the struggles, Mariama remains determined. She dreams of a future where her children can attend school, grow up healthy, and have better opportunities. “I just want a better life for my children,” she said. “Even if it is hard today, I believe things can improve if people like me get support.”
Across Sierra Leone, Mariama’s fight is reflected in countless other families. Her story is a reminder of the resilience of ordinary citizens and the urgent need for leaders to address poverty. For many, surviving each day is no longer a choice, but a necessity.
