The canals are at a breaking point in the Pottor community, Freetown, Sierra Leone, because there has been flooding during the night. David (23) is standing at the door of his house. In front of him, a young woman walks through the last obvious flooding of the area from the night. The water has started to recede again. David is very cold after the night. The cold comes with the floods. People often die from the cold.
It is clear to see the fear in people's eyes when they talk about the water. They are afraid that if they go to sleep at night and can hear the rain falling, they will wake up to a flooded home. That's why they stay awake, so they can attend to their home's things and help their fellow humans during the rain situations.
The rainy season lasts from July to September in the year 2023. Previously, it was two shorter rainy seasons, but now it is one long continuous rainy season. Afterwards, the people of Sierra Leone are experiencing intense drought. They are looking for ways to store rain from the rainy season, so they can use it, when the drought hits.
Building The Future Part of 'Infinite' 2023-2027 - 'Timeless' 2023-2029: Sierra Leone's challenges are interconnected. Climate change from floods, with problematic waste management, poverty in the population, exploitation by other countries of the country's resources, as well as a standard of living in harsh conditions. It is difficult to effect change when own funds are few, therefore NGOs, including Engineers Without Borders - Denmark (EWB-DK), World Hope International (WHI Sierra Leone), Skill Pool Sierra Leone and SEND (Social Enterprise Development Sierra Leone) play crucial roles, for the country's development and progress. Their work is to help the country with climate change, to preserve homes, education and life, as well as road networks, water and other important purposes, to make the whole of a society work.
The situation with global warming, landslides and floods, after the fierce Ebola crisis, and a few years before the civil war, tells of a population that does everything they can, so that they continue to have a hopeful future, as a nation, city and village.
Engineers Without Borders continues to strive to help Sierra Leone, West Africa, with climate adaptation projects, especially in the capital and port city of Freetown, as well as in one of the country's absolute poorest areas, in Kenema. They do so, with financial support from the West and Europe, and with an indomitable will among their local partners World Hope International (WHI Sierra Leone), Skill Pool Sierra Leone and SEND (Social Enterprise Development Sierra Leone).
The project 'Building the Future' is made in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders (EWB-DK), World Hope International (WHI Sierra Leone), Skill Pool Sierra Leone and SEND (Social Enterprise Development Sierra Leone). This photojournalistic project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark’s Fund 'OpEn' - on information and engagement.