Narrow Roads and 14,000 Leones - Alimamy Sesay (part 2)

A few weeks ago, Alimamy purchased a robust industrial overlocker machine. In the world of textiles, this is a serious piece of equipment. It cost 14,000 Leones (roughly $600 USD). In a context where it takes months of disciplined saving to reach that amount, it is a significant investment. It is also a sobering contrast to how easily we might spend that same amount in a week back home without batting an eye.

The (boxed) Overlocker machine! Just waiting to get set up.

Transporting the machine was its own mission. I drove Alimamy and a few others into downtown Freetown in our Toyota Landcruiser. The "roads" are more like alleyways with all the shops with their goods out front. These are so narrow that street vendors had to pull their goods out of the way just to let a single vehicle pass (ours). I may or may not have bumped a few stalls and elicited some justified frustration from shopkeepers—oops. I've learned there are different tones of yelling, some are just "talking" and then there are some when the get very animated. Thankfully, we were fine. Whew. 

After navigating the downtown chaos, we spent an hour on rutted dirt roads that clearly wash out during the rainy season. I have no idea how the locals manage it daily during rainy season, especially on motorbikes and small-wheeled kekes. We're just a few weeks from rainy season, in fact.

Life in Africa: A new way to ride. Do you see all three of them?

When we finally reached his shop, the scene was one of focused intensity. The space is small, maybe 14x14 feet, yet it fits six or seven people all sewing on different machines in 85°F heat with 80% humidity. The ground is dry and dusty, parched, dusty, and slightly red by the local iron-rich soil. Despite the conditions, there was a palpable sense of joy. Several experienced seamstresses had spent their Saturday helping Alimamy set up the new machine. It really does take a village.

Alimamy's current shop. 

The unboxing and setup. Everyone was quite excited about it!

The team that helped bring it to his shop, including some of the youth that Alimamy is training to become tailors.

Alimamy has already trained 50 youth through the World Bank and, more recently, his organization called DOERS. His goal is to scale this into a larger training hub that can accommodate 15 to 20 machines. He's currently working to secure a one-year lease on a larger facility, costing approximately 25,000 Leones ($1,100 US). He's been working hard, taking on more business from us and others, and is getting closer to realizing this next phase of his overall dream. It gets bigger, but this is just one more step toward his goal of improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans as demonstrated by his huge heart for Jesus and his people.  

As we prepare to sail away in a few months, I am grateful to Alimamy. He has taught me a great deal about what it looks like to find joy in the incremental work of building something that lasts. Sierra Leoneans have taught me more about living out of joy in my daily life. Alimamy is one of the chief joy-givers.

And, of course, this was on the way home. I'm going to miss West Africa.