©InfoThe shuttle weaves hypnotically back and forth through the loom. The foot peddle clacks away, but apart from that there’s not much noise. There’s not the same chatter as in the hairdressing or catering class. In this smaller class, the girls sit in couples taking it in turns to weave bolts of colourful woollen cloth.
Many of the youth at the child advocacy and rehabilitation centre (CAR) have a vibrant energy and when they tell you their stories it’s hard to believe they’ve been through such horrific ordeals. But Aminata Conteh, 15, is different. She’s a sombre girl and smiling doesn’t come naturally.
“During the war, my family was running away from the rebels,” Aminata says. “But they shot my brother and took me. I was so young I didn’t even remember my mother.” Even though Aminata doesn’t go into details, the impact of being forced to become a ‘bush wife’ to the rebels at such a young age is all too clear.
Learning to weave
“When I came to the Red Cross centre, I joined the weaving class, I was very happy to get this opportunity,” Aminata continues, as she sits quietly on the bench looking at her hands. “I had been going to school before, but because my father has so many children, he stopped paying for me.”
Although primary education is free, there are many costs associated with going to school, including books, uniforms and transport.
Towards the end of the programme, staff at the CAR centre support the children in making future plans. This includes working with families and local communities to find funding if a student wants to carry on in education. If a student is more interested in getting a job, they are given help in finding placements or setting up their own business.
Beginning to heal
“I enjoy the weaving, as it gives me something to do and a way to earn some money,” says Aminata. “But after graduating from the CAR centre, I would like to go back to school.”
Even those still struggling to come to terms with their past have found that life can be about fun too. When asked what her favourite activity is, Aminata doesn’t smile exactly, but there’s a flicker in her eyes as she says: “I like playing football.”
It’s not realistic to expect every child to recover fully from the trauma of the war by the end of the one-year programme, but it is certainly a solid foundation for the healing process to begin, bringing hope of a better future.
Read more stories from Sierra Leone
Find out about children affected by war in Liberia