Written and produced by Jariatu Sillah.
Jariatu is a feminist and child rights activist from Sierra Leone. She is in her final year of university pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, and is currently the head of Girls Unite, a feminist group that advocates for social transformation of structural injustices against women, children, and other minority groups. She is also a Tar Kura Youth Panellist, supporting regional funding decisions at Purposeful.
As a Purposeful Circles of Us Fellow, she has been able to strengthen the skill of advocacy through storytelling, and been able to cultivate the skill of script writing and filming to amplify stories of girls’ resistance against injustices in their communities.
“My story is about the struggles of single mothers in their homes, fighting to secure a brighter future for their children. It highlights the pain and hardship they undergo and their resilience and determination to survive. While the story depicts the challenges and strengths of mothers, it also acknowledges their good work and celebrates them. It’s a story that is close to my heart because it is my mother’s story, and she is the central character. Because of her, it’s also my story and I thought it was important to share it.”