“Peace comes when a government satisfies the basic necessities and takes care of its citizens. If you see your child’s inconsolable crying because of hunger you won’t have peace until you find a piece of bread; you do anything to find that bread.” This young woman didn’t think long; this was her answer to my question, “What makes peace in the world?” She is a student at St. Joseph School. Her dream is to finish school and make her own country a beautiful place to live. She said she comes to school to make Sierra Leone proud, it is her responsibility. She was aware of the crucial part education plays in this game. And that is why she was in school, unlike many others in Sierra Leone.

Historically, religion has been the root cause of so many prolonged conflicts between nations. One thing that fascinated me about Sierra Leone was the religious harmony in the society. In contrast to current conflicts in the Middle East and some other African countries, this harmony becomes even more fascinating. St. Joseph is a catholic school where 60% of the 1400 students are Muslim. “I am a Muslim but I like to read Bible as well. I can’t practice everyday. We don’t think about religion much, your religion is no more important”, said the young woman in my photograph. This probably does not reflect her parents and grandparent’s beliefs, but she could be reflecting a fresh new generation’s view. These courageous young people accept the current problematic state of their country and seem brave to have such big dreams. They are the bright future of Sierra Leone and they need the means to make those dreams happen.