sara b. may photography

Agnes Kamara, 11 years old. Agnes was adopted by her maternal aunt Agnes Foray and husband John Senesie, after losing her mother to what was assumed to be Ebola in late 2013. Before adopting Agnes, her aunt and uncle had also adopted 2 of Agnes' cousins years earlier. Now with a family of 11 to feed, they are struggling to survive, both parents having lost their jobs during the Ebola epidemic. Nonetheless, the children's education remains a priority, and while the children may at times go without a meal, they are still able to attend school daily. Agnes hopes to continue her education through university level and become a teacher. 

Adoptive aunt Agnes Foray with, from left, nieces Rose Johnson, Agnes Kamara, and Isatu Kargbo. Agnes Foray lost 3 sisters over a course of 5 years to a combination of Ebola, Malaria, and Typhoid, leading her and her husband to take in her orphaned nieces. She is committed to providing for their continued education as best she can. The family of 11 now survives on sporadic income earned by Agnes' husband in his part-time job in a hotel laundry, often amounting to less than $3 US dollars/day. 

Agnes bathes in the alley behind her home before school. 

Isatu and Rose join Agnes in the back alley for the morning bath. 

Isatu Kargbo

In the pre-dawn hours before school, Isatu has her hair braided by her adoptive aunt, Agnes Foray. 

Agnes Kamara gets started on her morning chores before the sun rises.

The three cousins share a bowl of grain with the rest of the family before walking to school. 

Francis Yorpoi, 13 years old. Francis lost both parents to Ebola in late 2014, his father, a photographer, succumbing on November 22nd, and his mother one month later on December 25th. Francis' 8 year old brother was adopted by another uncle, and Francis was adopted by the family of his maternal aunt & uncle, Iye and Matthew Gbakie. His uncle Matthew works carrying sand up the mountain to his village to sell locally, and the family of 7 (2 parents, a grandmother, 3 biological sons, and Francis) struggles to survive on about $10,000 Leones/day (about $1.80 in US dollars.) While Francis attended school while his parents were living, he is now asked to work with his uncle carrying sand, which often causes him to miss school. Francis still holds on to his hope of becoming a doctor (a cardiologist) and in spite of missed classes still endeavors to keep up with his peers at school. 

Francis with his adoptive aunt and uncle, Iye and Matthew Gbakie, at their home in the George Brook neighborhood of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Frequently consuming only 1 meal a day or less, Francis scrapes the last of the rice from the communal pot before getting ready for school. 

Francis reacts after being scolded by his aunt for bringing home incorrect change after being sent on an errand to buy fish from a neighbor. In the distance, his aunt sets out to collect the change herself. 

Francis washes his shoes every morning before school; his grandmother waits for the family's pot of rice to finish cooking. 

Francis is responsible for fetching the family's water from the nearby river every morning, after which he must clean the family's dishes from the day before. 

With no electricity and only a small window in the home, Francis does his homework in the back alley during daylight hours. 

Francis pauses with his grandmother on the front stoop as he prepares to walk to school. 

Adama Koroma, 10 years old. Adama lost her mother to childbirth during her early childhood, and lost her father to what was presumed to be Ebola in February of 2013. Adama was brought to Freetown from a small rural village after pleading with a woman visiting from Freetown to bring her home with her, in hopes of being able to attend school in the bigger city. She was adopted by the woman's daughter and son-in-law, Isata Charles and Abdul Sesay, who were themselves expecting their first child. Working in a local Coca Cola plant, Abdul earns the equivalent of about $4 US dollars/day. Soon after adopting Adama, the couple's first daughter was born, and Adama now relishes her role of older sister in her new family. She hopes to continue her education through university level and to become a doctor. When asked why she wanted to pursue a medical career, she responded "So I can help my people when they get sick." 

Adama's adoptive parents, Isata Charles and Abdul Sesay, chat with neighbors while Adama looks on. 

Adama Koroma holds her younger sister, born to Adama's adoptive parents 2 months after Adama was adopted. 

Adama with her adoptive mother, Isata Charles. 

Adama helps out with babysitting while her adoptive mother prepares dinner. 

Before and after school, Adama helps with all of the family's chores, including fetching water, cleaning, dishes, and doing laundry.