May 11, 2025 • 30 mins
Discover the remarkable journey of Monjama, a young woman from rural Sierra Leone whose life trajectory shifted dramatically through education, family reconnection, and dedicated support. Left fatherless in a remote village without schools or healthcare facilities, Monjama's future seemed predetermined by generational poverty—until intervention changed everything.
At just seven years old, Monjama entered the Child Reintegration Center (CRC), encountering formal education for the first time. Despite having no prior schooling, her natural abilities flourished as she was double-promoted through her studies. When the CRC transitioned from residential care to family-based support in 2016, Monjama faced new challenges: reconnecting with her mother while continuing her education.
The podcast welcomes two special guests who bring this story to life. Rosa Saffa, a social worker at the CRC who was herself raised in residential care, shares unique insights into the emotional complexities Monjama navigated. Then surprisingly, Monjama herself joins the conversation, describing her journey from disconnection to rebuilding relationships with her mother and siblings. We hear firsthand about the obstacles she overcame—language barriers, cultural differences, and the emotional work of reestablishing family bonds after years of separation.
Most powerfully, Monjama reveals how she completed nursing school and treated her own mother as her first patient—a profound full-circle moment that exemplifies how supporting one child can transform entire families and communities. As Rosa eloquently states, "If you educate a girl child, you educate a nation."
This episode challenges listeners to reconsider what creates true resilience in vulnerable children. Beyond academic opportunities, Monjama's story demonstrates how family connections provide the emotional foundation and sense of belonging essential for lasting success. Through her journey, we witness the transformative power of holistic support that addresses both educational needs and family relationships.
Ready to be part of someone's journey toward hope? Visit helpingchildrenworldwide.org to learn how
________
Travel on International Mission, meet local leadership and work alongside them. Exchange knowledge, learn from one another and be open to personal transformation. Step into a 25 year long story of change for children in some of the poorest regions on Earth.
https://www.helpingchildrenworldwide.org/mission-trips.html
******
_____
A bible study for groups and individuals, One Twenty-Seven: The Widow and the Orphan by Dr Andrea Siegel explores the themes of the first chapter of James, and in particular, 1:27. In James, we learn of our duty to the vulnerable in the historical context of the author. Order here or digital download
Shout out to our newest sponsor: The Resilience Institute
Helpingchildrenworldwide.org
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome back to another episode of Optimistic
Voices, a Child's View sharingstories of harsh challenges
faced by young people living inextreme poverty, and their
resilience and hope.
I'm Natalie Turner and this ismy co-host, dr Melody Curtis.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I'm Natalie Turner, and this is my co-host, dr
Melody Curtis.
Together, natalie and I willtalk about real kids who face
tough challenges and the amazingpeople who help them find a
brighter future.
It's called A Child's View notonly because the story is of a
child or children who overcametheir adversity, but also
because Natalie brings ayouthful perspective to the
lessons we gain in hearing thesestories.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Each episode features a special guest who will take
us on a journey, one filled withadversity, compassion and hope.
I think today's story will beespecially interesting to young
people like me, as it is aboutsomeone who was about my age
when the changes came in herlife.
And I'm about to start my ownjourney on my own, and all the
(01:07):
work I must do in preparationfor my career begins now.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I imagine that is true, but the young person at
the heart of today's episodefaced challenges that you and
your friends are not likely toexperience.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Yes, today's story is about Manjama, a young woman in
Sierra Leone, West Africa, whofaced life on her own and would
not have the bright future aheadof her if it were not for
people like our guest, Rosa Safa.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So let's welcome today's guest, rosa Safa, a
social worker and licensedcounselor working for the Child
Reintegration Center in SierraLeone.
Thank you for joining us, rosa.
Hello, tell our listeners alittle bit about yourself and I
work at the Child ReintegrationCenter in Sierra Leone.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I was actually one of the children who grew up there
when the CLC was just aresidential center.
Later I went to college.
After university, I became asocial worker and a counselor,
and now I work with young peoplewho are going to higher
education, as well as counselingthose who have trauma in their
(02:21):
lives.
Although CLC and my office arein Boe, but I have been
transferred to Freetown in 2023.
I was transferred to Freetown,so I now work in Freetown, the
Sierra Leone's capital city.
I've been working in Freetownfor the past two years and I
(02:41):
serve families who live there.
I also travel quite often tovisit other families and
students in higher education whoreside in Bo.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
So let's begin with Manjama's story.
What was happening when youfirst met her?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I met Manjama.
I was also in the residentialcare, so she was my sister.
She just completed her one yearin kindergarten and then she
was in primary school.
She just started class one,going to class two when I left
(03:23):
for university in Freetown.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
How did she come to be at the CRC?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
She was living in the village with her family.
She's from a family of five.
Mwondama is here with me.
She's from a family of fivebecause they lost their dad.
She's the oldest child in herfamily.
She has two younger brothersand a younger sister.
(03:52):
They are all living in avillage.
We are her parents.
We are peasants farmers.
Monjama and her siblings didn'tgo to school because there was
no school in their village, sothey helped their parents in the
farm.
They helped with the farm work.
Sadly, their father died andtheir mother alone struggled to
(04:20):
raise the children by herself.
She and their mother and herthree siblings were staying in
the village and life was veryhard for them.
They were farmers, the parentswere farmers.
They only farmed what they couldeat, what the family could eat
for the day, and so there was noschool in their village.
(04:41):
There was no health center, andso a good Samaritan who
traveled from Bo to theirvillage came to know about them
and their way of living, and thedad passed away, and so the
good Samaritan tried to sharetheir story with CLC, and later
(05:03):
the Monjama's family wereinvited to the CRC, maybe for
confirmation or to see howvulnerable they are at the
moment.
We were informed that we'll behaving a family of three joining
us One girl and two boys fromthe same family joining us at
(05:24):
the residence.
Later during the day, monjamaand her two brothers joined us
at the CLC.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That sounds very difficult.
How old was Monjama at the timeand how did she cope with
everything?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Monjama was just seven years old and it was hard.
Their first meal was dinner.
They came in the evening hoursso they just met us having
dinner and they joined us fordinner.
But she also got to go toschool for the first time.
(06:01):
She was told to begin a Nazischool, but because she had
never been to school before, shehad to stop there to get
foundation.
She did so well.
She was double promoted into aprimary school.
She completed primary schoolwith very high marks.
Her monjama and her siblingsstayed in the orphanage until
(06:25):
the transition in 2016.
And then she went to live withher auntie, auntie Lucy, who
lives in Bo, so that she couldcontinue to go to school.
This is very common in SierraLeone.
Kids often live with otherrelatives or friends of the
family in the city so that theycan continue school when the
(06:48):
village doesn't have school.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I imagine that it was very hard living apart from
family at such a young age andfor such a long time First the
orphanage and then with AuntieLucy, but she was continuing her
education, so I imagine thatthat motivated her and gave her
hope, but I also imagine thatthere were times, probably, when
(07:13):
she was a little sad.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I think this is where some of the changes started to
happen for Manjima, so that shedidn't feel separated from her
family.
Rosa, can you tell us whathappened next?
Did Majima get reconnected toher mom?
Yes, she did.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
When the orphanage transitioned in 2016, the CLC
team worked hard to make surethat Majima had the best family
placement so that she couldcontinue to do well in school
and have a bright future.
Monjama did well at AuntieLucy's place, but Lucy and the
(07:54):
social workers at TLC knew thatshe needed to reconnect with her
family to have true resilienceand a secured identity, and so
they make sure that she gotplenty of time to feel that she
belongs to a family.
Auntie Lucy she was from thesame village.
(08:19):
She worked hard to reconnectMonjama and her family in the
village.
She used to invite them over toher house on the weekends and
when Manjama got old enough totravel on her own, she visited
them on her own.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
That's incredible to hear that she was able to
continue the family connection,as that is so important.
Can you share what youwitnessed as the situation
changed?
How did it make you and Manjamafeel to be able to have both
access to a good education and aclose connection to family, not
having to sacrifice one for theother?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Monjama is here with me.
Welcome, Monjama.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Hello.
Oh, that's so exciting thatshe's there with you.
Monjama, we're wondering if youhad any fears about
reconnecting with your familyafter being apart from them for
so long with your family afterbeing apart from them for so
(09:25):
long.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Yeah, at first it was difficult really for me to
connect with my family because Iwas little by then and the way
to the village was difficult forme to know.
So when I grew up and Ifinished college before
reconnecting to them back, so Itried the first time to go to
(09:50):
the village so that I can knowwhere they are living.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And do you feel that you're reconnected with them now
?
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Yeah, sometimes I go to the village.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I get to see my mom.
So before the reunification in2016, the CRC team we were
having several meetings with thechildren trying to get them
prepared for the outside worldlife out of CLC, and they were
(10:34):
all panicked about adjusting toliving with their families.
Panicked about using the pitchdwellers, having to eat as a
family in the ports, because atthe CLC they used to eat at the
dining table.
They have different, differenttimes for their eating meals
each day and even the languagebarrier was also a problem for
(10:56):
them.
For children like Monjama whoare from the village, their
parents can only understandMende and now at the CLC they
have been used to speakingEnglish and also Krio.
So language barrier was also aproblem for them communicating
with their families.
(11:18):
But we started sending them onweekends to bridge the gap
between them and their families,so that the families can accept
them as their children and theycan know their culture, their
way of life, they can remembertheir language again, especially
the Mende, and also for them toknow that this is where I am
(11:40):
going to sleep, out of CLC.
This is the food I'll be eating.
I'll no more be eating breadand egg in the morning, but I'll
be eating rice or maybe fufu.
The CLC team did a very goodjob during the reunification
process for Monjama and all theother children in the residence.
We made sure we prepared themenough for life out of CRC and
(12:05):
so later it was very easy forthem to adjust.
So we connect with theirfamilies.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Was there anything in working with Manjima and
helping her that made youreflect on your own experience
as a care leaver?
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yes, there are some things that are similar with us.
When I went to Puyatong toattend university, I was
struggling with peer pressure.
I was struggling with peerpressure how to fit in with my
(12:49):
friends to go socializing,because I have spent all my
childhood days in the orphanage,the residential care, and it
was very strange for mesocializing.
And so when I started workingat the CLC as a counselor, and
(13:11):
later when Monjama was reunifiedwith her family, each time
doing home visits, I would askher have you started going out?
Have you started making newfriends, meeting with your
classmates outside school?
And she would say no, then shewould say she finds it difficult
(13:35):
to adjust to the outside world.
So then I reflect on my owndays in the university that I
was also struggling to minglewith friends because of how we
(13:55):
have been groomed in theresidence that we.
Our whole life was just spent ina fence.
I only get to connect with my.
Our whole life was just spentin a fence.
I only get to connect with mymother after college.
(14:15):
Yes, because after CLC I wentto Freetown to stay with Mr
Lamboy's family, the formerdirector of CLC.
So just after CLC I went toFreetown, I started living with
a different family and Iconnected with them more there
(14:36):
was that attachment between meand them than my own mother.
It was after university in 2016, that I get to spend more time
with my mother, and now I amhappy that she's my best friend
and I have learned a lot fromher.
(14:57):
And then I have to miss heragain because I got married and
then I have to leave her again.
So that's the sad part of it.
I just started enjoying mymother's love and then I have to
get married and leave herbehind.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Manjuma, how do you feel about being reconnected
with your mother?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Well, I was very happy to reconnect with her.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
And is it still difficult at times, or is it
comfortable now with your family?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Well, with her it's not really easy.
It's not easy.
She's still farming, she's onthe farming process, still on it
, Because that is what she doesto gain her living, and can you
describe what it is about beingreconnected with your mother
that makes you happy?
(16:01):
So reconnect with my mother,that makes me happy.
Well, she guides me, she tellsme what to do.
She also advised me about goodand bad, what I should do, what
I should not do, and sometimes,if I do wrong, maybe the way
(16:25):
other relative, we, we react tothe situation.
She will not react like that.
She will understand, becauseshe's the one that gave back to
me and she will know that what Idid is wrong and she will know
the way that she will face me totell me that what she did is
(16:47):
not right.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
And how does that make you feel?
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Well, I feel happy.
I feel happy, good, joyous,because staying with a mother.
It's only a mother that canunderstand a child, her daughter
or her children.
So right now I can say mymother is really proud of me
(17:13):
because she has heard that Ifinished my college and I have
done great in school.
I did very well, I focused thenI've passed with good grades.
So that makes her happy to be amother.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
So I think you just touched on this, but where are
you now?
How has life changed sincegetting that support?
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Where am I living now ?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Let me answer this please.
So my mother is doing very wellnow.
She got very high scores on herexams and went to university to
study nursing.
She's a nurse now, and guesswho was her very first patient?
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Her mother, her own, mother, and how did it make you
feel to be able to help yourmother as the first patient that
you saw?
Speaker 4 (18:09):
It makes me feel good , happy.
Well treating my family is likebeing proud of myself, like
being a nurse and what I wentthrough the college that makes
me to be a nurse have beenalready succeeded, so that makes
(18:33):
me very proud and happy, andalso my parents.
They are also happy and proudof me.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I am so proud to be associated with an organization
that ensures young people havethe education and support to
bring themselves out of poverty.
But I think I'm proudest of theCRC's efforts to ensure that
Manjima has that sense ofbelonging that is so important
for lifelong well-being.
(19:03):
As she describes it, it's thatsense that only a mother can
understand who you are and whyyou do what you do, and support
you and correct you in a waythat makes you feel seen and
heard.
It's amazing what can happenwhen institutions recognize that
(19:24):
mental health and well-being isas necessary for a plan of
success as a good education.
Thank you, rosa, for all thatyou and the CRC staff have done
for young people like Manjima.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
I bet Manjima feels proud too, not just of the
people who helped her, but ofherself Becoming a nurse, one of
a very important, important job, and we need more of them.
Can you share the big dreamsfor where the future will take
you, rosa, as a care leaver whoworks with other young care
(19:59):
leavers?
And how about Monjma?
Speaker 3 (20:04):
My hope is to continue working with more
youths and young adults likeMonjama to transform their lives
, to work with them and see themcomplete university, see them
become somebody in the future.
(20:24):
And I'm just happy to be partof their lives, to be their
counselor, to be a big sister tothem.
And someday I wish some otheryouths their stories can be
shared, their successes, justlike Monjama.
(20:44):
That is my wish.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
What are my plans after the university?
I want to get a fighter job.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Her plan is to be enrolled in a hospital where she
will start working as a nurseand to answer life and start her
own life, her own family and beindependent.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Before we wrap up, Rosa, what's one note of
optimism you'd like ourlisteners to take away from this
story?
What do you think they shouldlearn from this lesson?
Speaker 3 (21:27):
this lesson.
There is an adage in SierraLeone that says, if you educate
a girl child, you educate anation, and Mojama is just an
example that the CLC haseducated a nation.
The CLC has transformed notonly the lives of Mojama and her
(21:49):
family, but the nation.
She's going to be working as anurse and she's going to be
treating an entire country, anation, and so I have learned
that transforming someone's life, it's not just the individual,
(22:10):
but the entire world.
What CLC and HCW have done forMonjama, the whole world is
going to benefit from it.
So I want my listeners to helpa child, help a needy family, to
(22:31):
give them hopes and give them afuture.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Absolutely.
My note of optimism fromManjama's story is that it
reminds me to continue valuestaying connected to my family
and be grateful for the sense ofbelonging and support they
provide.
I want to have the courage thatMonjama has to make my dreams a
reality.
I want to go into the medicalfield as well, so your story is
(23:03):
inspiring to me and I'm suremany others, I'm sure many
others.
I want to grow up in a worldfilled with people who
understand that love and a senseof belonging is just as
important as anything else wegive to children.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
We hope today's story has inspired our listeners to
look around and see how they canbe a part of someone's journey.
I hope that you all heardRose's note of optimism about if
you educate A girl, you educatea nation.
When you help a woman, you liftup the world.
(23:37):
Whether it's through kindness,volunteering or simply listening
, small actions can make a bigdifference.
Helping young people to stayconnected to their community is
a role that almost any personcan fill.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Thank you, rosa and Manjama, for sharing this
incredible story, and thank you,listeners, for joining us today
on Optimistic Voices A Child'sView.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to
subscribe, share it with yourfriends and leave a review.
Together, we can bring morestories of hope to light.
We can bring more light to theworld.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Until next time, remember there's always hope and
every voice matters.
Bye for now.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
And now a short commercial message from our
friends at the ChildReintegration Center.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
So my family.
We don't hear much about himand his family and how the CLC
doesn't transform their life andin family and how the CRC don't
transform their life.
We got small families.
We got similar stories, likeMonjama.
(25:03):
So if you want for help ortransform any other family in
life, you go reach out.
So we now ww2 helping childrenworldwide dog
(25:36):
helpingchildrenworldwideorg.
Thank you for listening to usand for helping us.
So you've heard the story ofhow the CRC transformed the life
of Monjama and her family.
We have more families who arestill struggling with life, just
(25:56):
like Monjama and her family.
We have more families who arestill struggling with life, just
like Monjama.
So if you want to help a family, you can reach us at
wwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorg.
Wwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorg.
(26:20):
Thank you very much forlistening to our stories and
thank you for your support.
Wwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorgwwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorg.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Thank you again for tuning in to Optimistic Voices.
A Child's View.
Welcome back to another episode of Optimistic
Voices, a Child's View sharingstories of harsh challenges
faced by young people living inextreme poverty, and their
resilience and hope.
I'm Natalie Turner and this ismy co-host, dr Melody Curtis.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I'm Natalie Turner, and this is my co-host, dr
Melody Curtis.
Together, natalie and I willtalk about real kids who face
tough challenges and the amazingpeople who help them find a
brighter future.
It's called A Child's View notonly because the story is of a
child or children who overcametheir adversity, but also
because Natalie brings ayouthful perspective to the
lessons we gain in hearing thesestories.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Each episode features a special guest who will take
us on a journey, one filled withadversity, compassion and hope.
I think today's story will beespecially interesting to young
people like me, as it is aboutsomeone who was about my age
when the changes came in herlife.
And I'm about to start my ownjourney on my own, and all the
(01:07):
work I must do in preparationfor my career begins now.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I imagine that is true, but the young person at
the heart of today's episodefaced challenges that you and
your friends are not likely toexperience.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Yes, today's story is about Manjama, a young woman in
Sierra Leone, West Africa, whofaced life on her own and would
not have the bright future aheadof her if it were not for
people like our guest, Rosa Safa.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So let's welcome today's guest, rosa Safa, a
social worker and licensedcounselor working for the Child
Reintegration Center in SierraLeone.
Thank you for joining us, rosa.
Hello, tell our listeners alittle bit about yourself and I
work at the Child ReintegrationCenter in Sierra Leone.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I was actually one of the children who grew up there
when the CLC was just aresidential center.
Later I went to college.
After university, I became asocial worker and a counselor,
and now I work with young peoplewho are going to higher
education, as well as counselingthose who have trauma in their
(02:21):
lives.
Although CLC and my office arein Boe, but I have been
transferred to Freetown in 2023.
I was transferred to Freetown,so I now work in Freetown, the
Sierra Leone's capital city.
I've been working in Freetownfor the past two years and I
(02:41):
serve families who live there.
I also travel quite often tovisit other families and
students in higher education whoreside in Bo.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
So let's begin with Manjama's story.
What was happening when youfirst met her?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I met Manjama.
I was also in the residentialcare, so she was my sister.
She just completed her one yearin kindergarten and then she
was in primary school.
She just started class one,going to class two when I left
(03:23):
for university in Freetown.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
How did she come to be at the CRC?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
She was living in the village with her family.
She's from a family of five.
Mwondama is here with me.
She's from a family of fivebecause they lost their dad.
She's the oldest child in herfamily.
She has two younger brothersand a younger sister.
(03:52):
They are all living in avillage.
We are her parents.
We are peasants farmers.
Monjama and her siblings didn'tgo to school because there was
no school in their village, sothey helped their parents in the
farm.
They helped with the farm work.
Sadly, their father died andtheir mother alone struggled to
(04:20):
raise the children by herself.
She and their mother and herthree siblings were staying in
the village and life was veryhard for them.
They were farmers, the parentswere farmers.
They only farmed what they couldeat, what the family could eat
for the day, and so there was noschool in their village.
(04:41):
There was no health center, andso a good Samaritan who
traveled from Bo to theirvillage came to know about them
and their way of living, and thedad passed away, and so the
good Samaritan tried to sharetheir story with CLC, and later
(05:03):
the Monjama's family wereinvited to the CRC, maybe for
confirmation or to see howvulnerable they are at the
moment.
We were informed that we'll behaving a family of three joining
us One girl and two boys fromthe same family joining us at
(05:24):
the residence.
Later during the day, monjamaand her two brothers joined us
at the CLC.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That sounds very difficult.
How old was Monjama at the timeand how did she cope with
everything?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Monjama was just seven years old and it was hard.
Their first meal was dinner.
They came in the evening hoursso they just met us having
dinner and they joined us fordinner.
But she also got to go toschool for the first time.
(06:01):
She was told to begin a Nazischool, but because she had
never been to school before, shehad to stop there to get
foundation.
She did so well.
She was double promoted into aprimary school.
She completed primary schoolwith very high marks.
Her monjama and her siblingsstayed in the orphanage until
(06:25):
the transition in 2016.
And then she went to live withher auntie, auntie Lucy, who
lives in Bo, so that she couldcontinue to go to school.
This is very common in SierraLeone.
Kids often live with otherrelatives or friends of the
family in the city so that theycan continue school when the
(06:48):
village doesn't have school.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I imagine that it was very hard living apart from
family at such a young age andfor such a long time First the
orphanage and then with AuntieLucy, but she was continuing her
education, so I imagine thatthat motivated her and gave her
hope, but I also imagine thatthere were times, probably, when
(07:13):
she was a little sad.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I think this is where some of the changes started to
happen for Manjima, so that shedidn't feel separated from her
family.
Rosa, can you tell us whathappened next?
Did Majima get reconnected toher mom?
Yes, she did.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
When the orphanage transitioned in 2016, the CLC
team worked hard to make surethat Majima had the best family
placement so that she couldcontinue to do well in school
and have a bright future.
Monjama did well at AuntieLucy's place, but Lucy and the
(07:54):
social workers at TLC knew thatshe needed to reconnect with her
family to have true resilienceand a secured identity, and so
they make sure that she gotplenty of time to feel that she
belongs to a family.
Auntie Lucy she was from thesame village.
(08:19):
She worked hard to reconnectMonjama and her family in the
village.
She used to invite them over toher house on the weekends and
when Manjama got old enough totravel on her own, she visited
them on her own.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
That's incredible to hear that she was able to
continue the family connection,as that is so important.
Can you share what youwitnessed as the situation
changed?
How did it make you and Manjamafeel to be able to have both
access to a good education and aclose connection to family, not
having to sacrifice one for theother?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Monjama is here with me.
Welcome, Monjama.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Hello.
Oh, that's so exciting thatshe's there with you.
Monjama, we're wondering if youhad any fears about
reconnecting with your familyafter being apart from them for
so long with your family afterbeing apart from them for so
(09:25):
long.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Yeah, at first it was difficult really for me to
connect with my family because Iwas little by then and the way
to the village was difficult forme to know.
So when I grew up and Ifinished college before
reconnecting to them back, so Itried the first time to go to
(09:50):
the village so that I can knowwhere they are living.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And do you feel that you're reconnected with them now
?
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Yeah, sometimes I go to the village.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I get to see my mom.
So before the reunification in2016, the CRC team we were
having several meetings with thechildren trying to get them
prepared for the outside worldlife out of CLC, and they were
(10:34):
all panicked about adjusting toliving with their families.
Panicked about using the pitchdwellers, having to eat as a
family in the ports, because atthe CLC they used to eat at the
dining table.
They have different, differenttimes for their eating meals
each day and even the languagebarrier was also a problem for
(10:56):
them.
For children like Monjama whoare from the village, their
parents can only understandMende and now at the CLC they
have been used to speakingEnglish and also Krio.
So language barrier was also aproblem for them communicating
with their families.
(11:18):
But we started sending them onweekends to bridge the gap
between them and their families,so that the families can accept
them as their children and theycan know their culture, their
way of life, they can remembertheir language again, especially
the Mende, and also for them toknow that this is where I am
(11:40):
going to sleep, out of CLC.
This is the food I'll be eating.
I'll no more be eating breadand egg in the morning, but I'll
be eating rice or maybe fufu.
The CLC team did a very goodjob during the reunification
process for Monjama and all theother children in the residence.
We made sure we prepared themenough for life out of CRC and
(12:05):
so later it was very easy forthem to adjust.
So we connect with theirfamilies.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Was there anything in working with Manjima and
helping her that made youreflect on your own experience
as a care leaver?
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yes, there are some things that are similar with us.
When I went to Puyatong toattend university, I was
struggling with peer pressure.
I was struggling with peerpressure how to fit in with my
(12:49):
friends to go socializing,because I have spent all my
childhood days in the orphanage,the residential care, and it
was very strange for mesocializing.
And so when I started workingat the CLC as a counselor, and
(13:11):
later when Monjama was reunifiedwith her family, each time
doing home visits, I would askher have you started going out?
Have you started making newfriends, meeting with your
classmates outside school?
And she would say no, then shewould say she finds it difficult
(13:35):
to adjust to the outside world.
So then I reflect on my owndays in the university that I
was also struggling to minglewith friends because of how we
(13:55):
have been groomed in theresidence that we.
Our whole life was just spent ina fence.
I only get to connect with my.
Our whole life was just spentin a fence.
I only get to connect with mymother after college.
(14:15):
Yes, because after CLC I wentto Freetown to stay with Mr
Lamboy's family, the formerdirector of CLC.
So just after CLC I went toFreetown, I started living with
a different family and Iconnected with them more there
(14:36):
was that attachment between meand them than my own mother.
It was after university in 2016, that I get to spend more time
with my mother, and now I amhappy that she's my best friend
and I have learned a lot fromher.
(14:57):
And then I have to miss heragain because I got married and
then I have to leave her again.
So that's the sad part of it.
I just started enjoying mymother's love and then I have to
get married and leave herbehind.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Manjuma, how do you feel about being reconnected
with your mother?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Well, I was very happy to reconnect with her.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
And is it still difficult at times, or is it
comfortable now with your family?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Well, with her it's not really easy.
It's not easy.
She's still farming, she's onthe farming process, still on it
, Because that is what she doesto gain her living, and can you
describe what it is about beingreconnected with your mother
that makes you happy?
(16:01):
So reconnect with my mother,that makes me happy.
Well, she guides me, she tellsme what to do.
She also advised me about goodand bad, what I should do, what
I should not do, and sometimes,if I do wrong, maybe the way
(16:25):
other relative, we, we react tothe situation.
She will not react like that.
She will understand, becauseshe's the one that gave back to
me and she will know that what Idid is wrong and she will know
the way that she will face me totell me that what she did is
(16:47):
not right.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
And how does that make you feel?
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Well, I feel happy.
I feel happy, good, joyous,because staying with a mother.
It's only a mother that canunderstand a child, her daughter
or her children.
So right now I can say mymother is really proud of me
(17:13):
because she has heard that Ifinished my college and I have
done great in school.
I did very well, I focused thenI've passed with good grades.
So that makes her happy to be amother.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
So I think you just touched on this, but where are
you now?
How has life changed sincegetting that support?
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Where am I living now ?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Let me answer this please.
So my mother is doing very wellnow.
She got very high scores on herexams and went to university to
study nursing.
She's a nurse now, and guesswho was her very first patient?
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Her mother, her own, mother, and how did it make you
feel to be able to help yourmother as the first patient that
you saw?
Speaker 4 (18:09):
It makes me feel good , happy.
Well treating my family is likebeing proud of myself, like
being a nurse and what I wentthrough the college that makes
me to be a nurse have beenalready succeeded, so that makes
(18:33):
me very proud and happy, andalso my parents.
They are also happy and proudof me.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I am so proud to be associated with an organization
that ensures young people havethe education and support to
bring themselves out of poverty.
But I think I'm proudest of theCRC's efforts to ensure that
Manjima has that sense ofbelonging that is so important
for lifelong well-being.
(19:03):
As she describes it, it's thatsense that only a mother can
understand who you are and whyyou do what you do, and support
you and correct you in a waythat makes you feel seen and
heard.
It's amazing what can happenwhen institutions recognize that
(19:24):
mental health and well-being isas necessary for a plan of
success as a good education.
Thank you, rosa, for all thatyou and the CRC staff have done
for young people like Manjima.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
I bet Manjima feels proud too, not just of the
people who helped her, but ofherself Becoming a nurse, one of
a very important, important job, and we need more of them.
Can you share the big dreamsfor where the future will take
you, rosa, as a care leaver whoworks with other young care
(19:59):
leavers?
And how about Monjma?
Speaker 3 (20:04):
My hope is to continue working with more
youths and young adults likeMonjama to transform their lives
, to work with them and see themcomplete university, see them
become somebody in the future.
(20:24):
And I'm just happy to be partof their lives, to be their
counselor, to be a big sister tothem.
And someday I wish some otheryouths their stories can be
shared, their successes, justlike Monjama.
(20:44):
That is my wish.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
What are my plans after the university?
I want to get a fighter job.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Her plan is to be enrolled in a hospital where she
will start working as a nurseand to answer life and start her
own life, her own family and beindependent.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Before we wrap up, Rosa, what's one note of
optimism you'd like ourlisteners to take away from this
story?
What do you think they shouldlearn from this lesson?
Speaker 3 (21:27):
this lesson.
There is an adage in SierraLeone that says, if you educate
a girl child, you educate anation, and Mojama is just an
example that the CLC haseducated a nation.
The CLC has transformed notonly the lives of Mojama and her
(21:49):
family, but the nation.
She's going to be working as anurse and she's going to be
treating an entire country, anation, and so I have learned
that transforming someone's life, it's not just the individual,
(22:10):
but the entire world.
What CLC and HCW have done forMonjama, the whole world is
going to benefit from it.
So I want my listeners to helpa child, help a needy family, to
(22:31):
give them hopes and give them afuture.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Absolutely.
My note of optimism fromManjama's story is that it
reminds me to continue valuestaying connected to my family
and be grateful for the sense ofbelonging and support they
provide.
I want to have the courage thatMonjama has to make my dreams a
reality.
I want to go into the medicalfield as well, so your story is
(23:03):
inspiring to me and I'm suremany others, I'm sure many
others.
I want to grow up in a worldfilled with people who
understand that love and a senseof belonging is just as
important as anything else wegive to children.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
We hope today's story has inspired our listeners to
look around and see how they canbe a part of someone's journey.
I hope that you all heardRose's note of optimism about if
you educate A girl, you educatea nation.
When you help a woman, you liftup the world.
(23:37):
Whether it's through kindness,volunteering or simply listening
, small actions can make a bigdifference.
Helping young people to stayconnected to their community is
a role that almost any personcan fill.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Thank you, rosa and Manjama, for sharing this
incredible story, and thank you,listeners, for joining us today
on Optimistic Voices A Child'sView.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to
subscribe, share it with yourfriends and leave a review.
Together, we can bring morestories of hope to light.
We can bring more light to theworld.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Until next time, remember there's always hope and
every voice matters.
Bye for now.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
And now a short commercial message from our
friends at the ChildReintegration Center.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
So my family.
We don't hear much about himand his family and how the CLC
doesn't transform their life andin family and how the CRC don't
transform their life.
We got small families.
We got similar stories, likeMonjama.
(25:03):
So if you want for help ortransform any other family in
life, you go reach out.
So we now ww2 helping childrenworldwide dog
(25:36):
helpingchildrenworldwideorg.
Thank you for listening to usand for helping us.
So you've heard the story ofhow the CRC transformed the life
of Monjama and her family.
We have more families who arestill struggling with life, just
(25:56):
like Monjama and her family.
We have more families who arestill struggling with life, just
like Monjama.
So if you want to help a family, you can reach us at
wwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorg.
Wwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorg.
(26:20):
Thank you very much forlistening to our stories and
thank you for your support.
Wwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorgwwwhelpingchildrenworldwideorg.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Thank you again for tuning in to Optimistic Voices.
A Child's View.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.