Suited for Learning
Sierra Leone Participant Impact Story
by Andrea Fandrich

At 18 years old, Hadiatu Jalloh is the youngest participant in her adult learning class.  At a young age, she was pulled out of school so that she could help support her mother in her tailoring shop. This has left Hadiatu illiterate and dependant on her mother. When CAUSE Canada brought the WIEP program to Dogoloya, Hadiatu saw an opportunity for herself and very eagerly took it.

Each class, Hadiatu shows her enthusiasm for learning, listening intently and doing her best to write down everything she can. This keenness really shows, as she achieved 98% on her last assessment. The class has ignited a passion for learning in Hadiatu and she desperately hopes to continue her learning by going back to school. The road back to education is hard for her though, filled with many obstacles. She explains that unfortunately she cannot go back while she is still taking care of her mother. Instead of using her savings matchup for school fees she must use it for business so that she can continue to provide for herself and her mother. She still remains hopeful though, and through this class she feels she has been able to take steps closer towards her goal. Unlike many of the girls her age in her community, she feels marrying and starting a family at this time would not be fitting with her dreams. With the assistance of the integral themes in the class, she has gained the confidence to stand up for herself and her rights and say no to an arranged marriage that she knew would not suit her.

She has gained knowledge on proper hygiene and how to protect herself from common illnesses like malaria and diarrhea and she says it is really benefiting her life. As well, the new literacy and numeracy skills she has learned is helping her tailoring business. She is now able to write down her customer’s names and measurements, and this is making her more efficient in her work. She hopes that with this increase in business she will one day be able to pay for her own education.

She thanks CAUSE Canada for all this class has given her, but she says the greatest thing she has gained is increased confidence in herself and her abilities. She says she feels very good every time she gets the chance to write down her own name, and no matter what, she will always cherish that.