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7. Mamatoma Momoh  à
           
6. Sowah K. Momoh
            
5. Nyawoh Kenneh
  
4. Nancy Lahai

3. Josephine Yegbu

2. Foday Ansu

1. Kadiatu Junisa

Profiles of Students

Mamatoma, a JSS I (Grade 7) student at Wesley Secondary School in Segbwema, is the oldest of seven children.  Though some of her siblings are in nearby Pendembu, most live in their home village of Foindu, twenty-five miles away.  As the oldest child in the family, Mamatoma has much responsibility.  When she lived at home, she was expected to look after her brothers and sisters, pound enough rice for everyone to eat (a very labor-intensive process), and assist her mother in cooking dinner. 

Even though Mamatoma now lives away from home while attending school, she has the same, if not more, expected of her.  When her younger brothers and sisters are old enough to enter secondary school, Mamatoma must help pay for their school fees.  When her parents are too old to do physical labor on the farm, Mamatoma must support them. 

In Sierra Leone, families can often be quite large, extending far beyond the Western nuclear family of mother, father, brothers, and sisters.  Families in Sierra Leone form the most basic social fabric and provide support for each other but also obligations.  In a village like Mamatoma’s, everyone is an uncle, aunt, or cousin, but these relatives are traditionally referred to as fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters.  Knowing that her family relies on her to succeed first academically, then professionally, may be daunting, but also pushes Mamatoma to work hard to do well.  If she can become a nurse, she will be able to both provide for her family and continue to pursue her love of biology.

Name:     Mamatoma Momoh

Age:        14 Years

Grade:     7th

School:    Wesley Secondary

                 School, Segbwema

Village:    Foindu