{"id":62162,"date":"2020-03-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/?p=62162"},"modified":"2024-09-11T11:27:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T03:27:21","slug":"a-trip-to-sierra-leone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/?p=62162","title":{"rendered":"A Trip to Sierra Leone"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"62162\" class=\"elementor elementor-62162\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-10e06a23 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"10e06a23\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-10fd00d5\" data-id=\"10fd00d5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30e2d5e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"30e2d5e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Text and photos by Hsiao Yiu-hwa<\/strong><br \/>Abridged and translated by Wu Hsiao-ting<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80c0d4a elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80c0d4a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c6fa25f\" data-id=\"c6fa25f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dfaa6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2dfaa6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-19.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-19.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-19-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-19-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-19-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-19-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-19-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cd1cd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2cd1cd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The view near dusk from a hotel room in western Freetown<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28912c5 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"28912c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#2c2c2c;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 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var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{-webkit-box-flex:0;-ms-flex-positive:0;flex-grow:0;-ms-flex-negative:100;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{-webkit-box-flex:0;-ms-flex-positive:0;flex-grow:0;-ms-flex-negative:100;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-82232f3 elementor-section-full_width elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"82232f3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-08b48ac\" data-id=\"08b48ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71b1b6bb elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71b1b6bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I pushed open my hotel window and looked out. It was near dusk, and the tranquil seaside scenery was refreshingly beautiful. My view could easily have rivaled those offered at a typical coastal tourist destination. I was at a hotel on a small hill in western Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The view I was enjoying \u201ccame at a cost\u201d\u2014160 U.S. dollars a day to be exact. How much money would this be to the average Sierra Leonean? I\u2019d have to venture out of the hotel and look around the city to find out.<\/p><p>But first, why is Freetown named as it is? A little history lesson might be in order here.<\/p><p>After Sierra Leone was \u201cdiscovered\u201d by the Europeans during the great seafaring days in the mid-15th century, several countries set up trade there. Portuguese traders came first, followed by the Dutch, French, and English. The Europeans initially set their sights on the region\u2019s rich natural resources, such as minerals and timber, but their interest shifted towards slaves as the demand for slaves in the Americas grew. Sierra Leone became an important center in the slave trade.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bbf8cc6 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bbf8cc6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-60dbde6\" data-id=\"60dbde6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da54200 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"da54200\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After the American War of Independence (1775-1783), some liberated slaves were returned to Sierra Leone. They settled in an area that was named \u201cFree Town\u201d to signify their newfound freedom. Since then, the town has developed from a resettlement area for freed slaves to a bustling city of more than a million people. This was how Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, got its name.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9ba9418 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"9ba9418\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c77671e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c77671e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1891\" height=\"1875\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/03\/map-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/03\/map-1.png 1891w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/03\/map-1-300x297.png 300w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/03\/map-1-1024x1015.png 1024w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/03\/map-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/03\/map-1-768x762.png 768w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2020\/03\/map-1-1536x1523.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1891px) 100vw, 1891px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-569b9be elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"569b9be\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-623f500\" data-id=\"623f500\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8a41db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e8a41db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Hawkers with their wares on their heads<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69edbdc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"69edbdc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As I ambled through the downtown area of Freetown, I found every street and alley teeming with people and activity. Ambulatory vendors, with their wares on their heads, roamed the streets hawking their goods. They were selling a great number of things. It might be a few bananas, several bottles of soda, a handful of toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes, a few pairs of old shoes, some pots and pans, or sundry other items. Everything you could think of, wanted, or needed could be found on top of their heads.<\/p><p>To a foreigner, these super-micro, on-the-top-of-the-head businesses are very eye-catching and have a strong exotic appeal. They make great subject matter for a photographer like me. But I started to wonder: What\u2019s their impact on the economy of Sierra Leone? I know that many local people depend upon these super-micro businesses as their source of income, but how much do they make? How much do they contribute to the economy in Sierra Leone?<\/p><p>I asked a soda hawker how much he earned a day. He said about two U.S. dollars. That money was used to support his family, not for his own personal use. So how large are the families in Sierra Leone? Statistics show that women in Sierra Leone give birth to an average of five children; the mothers\u2019 average age when they have their first child is 19. Using these numbers, you can get a rough idea of how big families are here. Needless to say, the money earned by these vendors doesn\u2019t go far.<\/p><p>Knowing next to nothing about market economy, I can\u2019t definitively answer the question of just what an impact these vendors might have. But intuitively, I can\u2019t help feeling that it is not a very productive use of the country\u2019s labor force. A large sector of the population has been forced to take up this means of livelihood, and with so many out and about, they must not make much money.<\/p><p>What\u2019s more, with so many people making a living like this, the government is missing out on much needed tax income. This in turn affects the government\u2019s ability to pay for things people need\u2014including medical care, education, housing, and the maintenance and construction of new infrastructure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2ef62b1 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2ef62b1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fcbaa28\" data-id=\"fcbaa28\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-843c68a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"843c68a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Everything in short supply<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88995de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"88995de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A look around Freetown easily reveals the inadequacies and problems Sierra Leone is facing. Walk into Connaught Hospital, built in 1912 when the nation was still a British colony, and you are immediately struck by the severe lack of medical resources. Though Connaught Hospital is the largest medical facility in Sierra Leone, medical equipment and tools are old and in extremely short supply. Four dialysis machines, donated a few years earlier by Israel, are here at Connaught. These four machines are the only such machines in the entire country\u2014and three are out of order. That leaves only one functioning dialysis machine in the whole of Sierra Leone. When a hospital of this scale does so poorly, what must it be like for other medical facilities around the nation?<\/p><p>Everything is in short supply. There is an inadequate number of physicians, an inadequate number of beds, an inadequate number of everything. The only thing not in short supply are patients\u2014there never seems to be an end to them. The acute lack of healthcare professionals and medical infrastructure triggered a nationwide strike of doctors in Sierra Leone in December 2018. The protestors asked for medical equipment purchases, additional resources, higher pay, as well as other improvements. The strike lasted 13 days and paralyzed hospitals nationwide.<\/p><p>The country\u2019s medical conditions are in shambles, but the educational sector is doing hardly any better. The law requires nine years of free and compulsory schooling, but a shortage of schools, teachers, and funding has made implementation unfeasible.<\/p><p>Sierra Leone emerged from 11 years of devastating civil conflict in January 2002. The war led to the destruction of nearly 1,300 primary schools. Near the end of the war, in 2001, 67 percent of school-age children were not attending school. Though the situation has greatly improved since then, there is still a long way to go to reach the nation\u2019s basic requirements.<\/p><p>What about public hygiene? Public infrastructure? Social welfare? How much longer do the citizens of Sierra Leone have to wait until they can enjoy the basic entitlements and privileges that people elsewhere take for granted? I\u2019m afraid even concerned government officials have no answer to that question.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8312cc3 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8312cc3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d1f361\" data-id=\"3d1f361\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-daf084c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"daf084c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Lending a helping hand<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-362bd1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"362bd1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Covering an area of 71,740 square kilometers (27,700 square miles), Sierra Leone is twice the size of Taiwan. The nation is rich in natural resources, including diamonds, gold, and titanium ore. Even so, a high percentage of its seven million people still live below the poverty line.<\/p><p>Inadequate medical care, insufficient educational resources, poor public infrastructure\u2014when you look at all the problems the country is facing, you can\u2019t help but wonder what on earth went wrong. Is it the nation\u2019s system of government? Poor efficiency? Human factors or other issues? Whatever the reasons, they were not something a foreigner like me who was only there for a short time could fully comprehend.<\/p><p>When I returned to my hotel, I pushed open my window and looked out at the peaceful sea again. As I took in that picturesque, 160-dollar-a-day view, the agitation I was feeling from my trip around town gradually began to subside. As I stood there, looking out, my thoughts turned to the locals I saw on the streets struggling to make a living. I felt guilty at how expensive my accommodation was in comparison. However, guilty or not, I didn\u2019t have much choice in the matter. Without exception, hotel rooms in Sierra Leone cost upwards of a hundred U.S. dollars a night. How can they charge such prices and get away with it? It\u2019s because they cater to foreigners, not the locals.<\/p><p>Why do foreigners visit Sierra Leone? For most, it\u2019s not the sightseeing. A large proportion of foreigners consist of businesspeople in the country seeking business opportunities. Another large group is NGO personnel who are in the nation to implement humanitarian aid work. I was in this latter category. I had come to the country with a group of Tzu Chi volunteers, who had paid their own way to carry out the foundation\u2019s philanthropic work for people in need. They were also learning more about what the foundation could do for a nation rated as one of the poorest in the world.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea0755c elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea0755c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cb5b475\" data-id=\"cb5b475\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6859e50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6859e50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Tzu Chi has aided the underserved in Sierra Leone since 2015, in the hope of bringing some relief to a people who have suffered through a brutal decade-long civil war, a deadly Ebola virus epidemic from 2014 to 2016, and recent devastating natural disasters. Without a doubt, this is a country in which Tzu Chi will continue to expend its resources and efforts. When will their efforts bear fruit? I\u2019m not sure. But I\u2019m positive they will keep at their work, without complaint, because they know that they are just doing what humans should do.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71fdc7e\" data-id=\"71fdc7e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3da24df elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3da24df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1026\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-14.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-14.jpg 1026w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-14-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-14-730x1024.jpg 730w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-14-768x1078.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1026px) 100vw, 1026px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1db2332 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1db2332\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A woman sells fish balanced on top of her head on a street in Freetown.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e788e8 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"9e788e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-68457ce elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"68457ce\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-560eb5ad\" data-id=\"560eb5ad\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e70aee4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5e70aee4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));-ms-flex-item-align:stretch;align-self:stretch;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-186da98d elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"186da98d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;justified&quot;,&quot;ideal_row_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:350,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:250,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.6.4 - 15-03-2022 *\/\n.elementor-gallery__container{min-height:1px}.elementor-gallery-item{position:relative;overflow:hidden;display:block;text-decoration:none;border:solid var(--image-border-width) 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3)}.elementor-gallery-item__description{color:var(--description-text-color,#fff);width:100%}.elementor-gallery-item__title{color:var(--title-text-color,#fff);font-weight:700;width:100%}.elementor-gallery__titles-container{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-box-pack:var(--titles-container-justify-content,center);-ms-flex-pack:var(--titles-container-justify-content,center);justify-content:var(--titles-container-justify-content,center);margin-bottom:20px}.elementor-gallery__titles-container:not(.e--pointer-framed) .elementor-item:after,.elementor-gallery__titles-container:not(.e--pointer-framed) .elementor-item:before{background-color:var(--galleries-pointer-bg-color-hover)}.elementor-gallery__titles-container:not(.e--pointer-framed) .elementor-item.elementor-item-active:after,.elementor-gallery__titles-container:not(.e--pointer-framed) .elementor-item.elementor-item-active:before{background-color:var(--galleries-pointer-bg-color-active)}.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed .elementor-item:before{border-color:var(--galleries-pointer-bg-color-hover);border-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width)}.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed .elementor-item:after{border-color:var(--galleries-pointer-bg-color-hover)}.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed .elementor-item.elementor-item-active:after,.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed .elementor-item.elementor-item-active:before{border-color:var(--galleries-pointer-bg-color-active)}.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed.e--animation-draw .elementor-item:before{border-left-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width);border-bottom-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width);border-right-width:0;border-top-width:0}.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed.e--animation-draw .elementor-item:after{border-left-width:0;border-bottom-width:0;border-right-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width);border-top-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width)}.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed.e--animation-corners .elementor-item:before{border-left-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width);border-bottom-width:0;border-right-width:0;border-top-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width)}.elementor-gallery__titles-container.e--pointer-framed.e--animation-corners .elementor-item:after{border-left-width:0;border-bottom-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width);border-right-width:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width);border-top-width:0}.elementor-gallery__titles-container .e--pointer-double-line .elementor-item:after,.elementor-gallery__titles-container .e--pointer-double-line .elementor-item:before,.elementor-gallery__titles-container .e--pointer-overline .elementor-item:before,.elementor-gallery__titles-container .e--pointer-underline .elementor-item:after{height:var(--galleries-pointer-border-width)}.elementor-gallery-title{--space-between:10px;cursor:pointer;color:#6d7882;font-weight:500;position:relative;padding:7px 14px;-webkit-transition:all .3s;-o-transition:all .3s;transition:all .3s}.elementor-gallery-title--active{color:#495157}.elementor-gallery-title:not(:last-child){margin-right:var(--space-between)}.elementor-gallery-item__title+.elementor-gallery-item__description{margin-top:var(--description-margin-top)}.e-gallery-item.elementor-gallery-item{-webkit-transition-property:all;-o-transition-property:all;transition-property:all}.e-gallery-item.elementor-animated-content .elementor-animated-item--enter-from-bottom,.e-gallery-item.elementor-animated-content .elementor-animated-item--enter-from-left,.e-gallery-item.elementor-animated-content .elementor-animated-item--enter-from-right,.e-gallery-item.elementor-animated-content .elementor-animated-item--enter-from-top,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-bg,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content__description,.e-gallery-item:hover .elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content__title{opacity:1}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title{color:var(--galleries-title-color-normal)}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.elementor-item-active,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.highlighted,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title:focus,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title:hover{color:var(--galleries-title-color-hover)}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.elementor-item-active{color:var(--gallery-title-color-active)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-24.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-186da98d\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"1\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDgsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTI0LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC0xODZkYTk4ZCJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-24.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"904\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-21.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-186da98d\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDUsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTIxLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC0xODZkYTk4ZCJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-21.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"976\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-646b6540 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"646b6540\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Time Frozen in Bustling Street Scenes<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bbfc073 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5bbfc073\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>An outdoor market in Freetown\u2019s downtown area is crowded with people buying and selling. The city center is full of hustle and bustle all day long.<\/p><p>Great Britain ended its colonial rule of Sierra Leone in 1961. A postbox from the colonial days still stands on the side of a street in Freetown. It indicates that the city has not made much progress in terms of urban planning and development since then.<\/p><p>Freetown is not large geographically, but one seventh of Sierra Leone\u2019s population strives to make a living there. The pressure to stay afloat is understandably intense.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-588eb041 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"588eb041\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-62849e6e\" data-id=\"62849e6e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-245ddb4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"245ddb4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30afee31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"30afee31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;justified&quot;,&quot;ideal_row_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-26.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-30afee31\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"1\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNTAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTI2LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC0zMGFmZWUzMSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-26.jpg\" data-width=\"962\" data-height=\"1440\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-29.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-30afee31\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNTMsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTI5LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC0zMGFmZWUzMSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-29.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-18.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-30afee31\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"3\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTE4LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC0zMGFmZWUzMSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-18.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7866f116 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7866f116\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Super-Mini Stores on Their Heads<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a92bdde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a92bdde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In Freetown, as throughout the entire country, ambulatory vendors hawking goods balanced on their heads are everywhere. They walk around the streets at any time and place, on the lookout for potential customers. This is how they make a living. A large percentage of people in Sierra Leone strive to keep themselves and their families fed by running this kind of super-micro business.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-545a0587 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"545a0587\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57faec23\" data-id=\"57faec23\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-577cbfda elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"577cbfda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56469406 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"56469406\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;justified&quot;,&quot;ideal_row_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:350,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:250,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-16.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-56469406\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"1\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTE2LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC01NjQ2OTQwNiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-16.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-23.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-56469406\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTIzLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC01NjQ2OTQwNiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-23.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"973\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-27.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-56469406\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"3\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNTEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTI3LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC01NjQ2OTQwNiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-27.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"962\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-20.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-56469406\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"4\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDQsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTIwLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC01NjQ2OTQwNiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-20.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"917\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ca0d2f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ca0d2f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Medically Underserved, Health Unguarded<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6130d8ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6130d8ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li>Aided by a pair of crutches, a polio victim forges ahead on the rough path facing him in life.<\/li><li>An old man with an injured leg sits outside Connaught Hospital in Freetown.<\/li><li>A dilapidated bed still in use in the government-run Connaught Hospital<\/li><li>A billboard like this one, promoting the prevention of HIV, is a common sight in Sierra Leone.<\/li><\/ol><p>These scenes, common in Freetown, provide a glimpse into a country in which there is still a lot of room for improvement in the areas of medical care and public health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-741e1b58 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"741e1b58\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-62b31690\" data-id=\"62b31690\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-629850a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"629850a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0c7ab6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"f0c7ab6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;justified&quot;,&quot;ideal_row_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:350,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:250,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-22.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-f0c7ab6\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"1\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDYsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTIyLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC1mMGM3YWI2In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-22.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-32.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-f0c7ab6\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNTYsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTMyLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC1mMGM3YWI2In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-32.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e28005 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e28005\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Survival Challenges From an Early Age<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e53b048 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e53b048\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li>Children wait in the rain for the distribution of hot food by Tzu Chi. One of them shields herself from the rain with a container she brought to hold the food.<\/li><li>This 38-year-old woman says she has five children, one cradled in her arm, one lying across her thigh, two flanking her, and one standing to her left with her arms crossed over her chest. The woman exemplifies the typical mother in Sierra Leone. Statistically, women in Sierra Leone give birth to an average of five children. According to the World Health Organization, Sierra Leone had the highest maternal mortality rate in the world in 2015. The country also has one of the highest infant and under-five mortality rates.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-238c53e elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"238c53e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1173b1b\" data-id=\"1173b1b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c38d57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8c38d57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14b708f elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"14b708f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;justified&quot;,&quot;ideal_row_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:350,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:250,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-17.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-14b708f\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"1\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTE3LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC0xNGI3MDhmIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-17.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-15.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-14b708f\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwMzksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTE1LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC0xNGI3MDhmIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-15.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61fcb92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"61fcb92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>A Shortage of Educational Resources<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80e8abe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80e8abe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li>Students in class in a primary school in Tombo. This private school was converted from a deserted warehouse. The indoor space is divided by wooden poles and recycled sacks into seven classrooms for a hundred to 150 students. There is no lighting or air conditioning. With so many children crowded together for lessons, the teaching quality and learning efficiency are quite debatable.<\/li><li>A scene from a primary school classroom located next to Grafton Amputee Camp in Western Area. Nearly 1,300 primary schools were destroyed during the Sierra Leone civil war, between 1991 and 2002. The nation\u2019s educational sector has not yet recovered from the devastation.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6745f13 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6745f13\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0369743\" data-id=\"0369743\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f63b1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"9f63b1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a82b9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"4a82b9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;justified&quot;,&quot;ideal_row_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:350,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:250,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-25.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-4a82b9a\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"1\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNDksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTI1LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC00YTgyYjlhIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-25.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-30.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-4a82b9a\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNTQsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTMwLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC00YTgyYjlhIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-30.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"935\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7250af4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7250af4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>No Way Out for Slum Residents<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a12a853 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a12a853\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li>Kroo Bay is a slum in central Freetown. This community is a microcosm of the general living conditions in Sierra Leone\u2014no running water or electricity, poor sanitary conditions, and overcrowdedness.<\/li><li>Young people in a slum idle away their time. Sierra Leone has a high unemployment rate. Faced with a shortage of job opportunities, young people are powerless and see no future for themselves. The cycle of poverty and their aimlessness have negative effects at the individual and societal levels.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d3ef4c2 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d3ef4c2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4fb743f\" data-id=\"4fb743f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc26aea elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"cc26aea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-575cc3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"575cc3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;justified&quot;,&quot;ideal_row_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:350,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:500,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ideal_row_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:250,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-28.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-575cc3a\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"1\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNTIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTI4LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC01NzVjYzNhIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-28.jpg\" data-width=\"1059\" data-height=\"1440\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-31.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"all-575cc3a\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"2\" e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjIwNTUsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC90Y21vbnRobHkudHp1Y2hpY3VsdHVyZS5vcmcudHdcL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcL3NpdGVzXC84XC8yMDI0XC8wOVwvMTEwLTMxLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImFsbC01NzVjYzNhIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/110-31.jpg\" data-width=\"1440\" data-height=\"960\" alt=\"\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3ca50f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e3ca50f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Tzu Chi Volunteers Reaching Out<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec2116b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ec2116b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li>Two visually impaired girls at Paul School for the Blind, located in Bo, play with each other. This school enrolls pupils from extremely destitute families. Through the recommendation of the Lanyi Foundation, one of Tzu Chi\u2019s three partners in Sierra Leone, Tzu Chi has decided to help the school repair its dormitory floor and replace broken bed frames.<\/li><li>Tzu Chi volunteers lead a group activity during a visit to an approved school (for juvenile offenders) in Freetown. Bringing aid to the institution, the volunteers gave the youngsters their best wishes and encouraged them to learn job skills to facilitate their return to society.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-23f46c69 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"23f46c69\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-20ecb552\" data-id=\"20ecb552\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c584bd9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4c584bd9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"189\" height=\"170\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/07\/\u82f1\u6587\u9801\u5c3e-2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I pushed open my hotel window and looked out. It was near dusk, and the tranquil seaside scenery was refreshingly \u2026 <a class=\"text-right\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/?p=62162\"><span class=\"text\">Read More <\/span><span class=\"arrow\">\u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pmpro_default_level":0,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[2102],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Trip to Sierra Leone - Tzu Chi Bimonthly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/?p=62162\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_TW\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Trip to Sierra Leone - Tzu Chi Bimonthly\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I pushed open my hotel window and looked out. 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