Swit Salone: A Journey in Photos

December 6, 2011

By: Tejal Desai

By Tejal Desai, KF16, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone boasts lush, tumultuous landscapes, postcard-worthy beaches, delectable home cooking, inspiring stories, and some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. I was fortunate to have been placed in Freetown, Sierra Leone for my Kiva Fellowship at BRAC Sierra Leone. Follow my journey through this beautiful country and its capital city, Freetown. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Fish is one of Sierra Leone's abundant resources, with main catches including snapper, lobster, barracuda, and mackerel.

Sierra Leone’s beaches are a piece of paradise outside of the city

Arriving from the office just in time to catch the sun set on the West African coast: priceless.

Fresh fruit on the side of the road sold by a friendly Sierra Leonean man named Joe. So swit.

The Kiva coordinator, Mbalu, and I at the BRAC Sierra Leone country office in Freetown.

A hometown hero and Kiva borrower, Ethleem opened a stationary and school supply shop after recognizing how deprived local schools were in basic supplies. She is one of the main suppliers of textbooks and stationary to schools in downtown Freetown!

Spicy! Mbalu gave me a lesson in Sierra Leonean cooking.

Mbalu taught me how to prepare a traditional Sierra Leonean meal: fried stew with fish. Delicious!

On a boat departing from Banana Island to Freetown.

With the BRAC Tengebeh Town SEP staff: the folks who help make it happen in the field!

A BRAC credit officer, Reginald, took me to watch a local football match at the Freetown National Stadium scrimmage field: Team Krootown Obama vs. Red Devils.

Tejal Desai has served as a Kiva Fellow in Freetown, Sierra Leone with BRAC Sierra Leone from August to December 2011. Want to support microfinance in Sierra Leone? Joining BRAC Sierra Leone’s lending team joining BRAC Sierra Leone’s lending team and lend to a BRAC borrower today!

Read more Kiva Fellows blog posts by Tejal here.