The Death of Sullay Conteh

My nine months in Sierra Leone in 2011 had a profound effect on me, especially witnessing the poverty and desperation inherent in so many people's lives. They live on the edge of death or in its shadow every day. As Canadian soldiers, we were conspicuous in our camouflage uniforms and white Land Rovers, and were often asked to assist complete strangers with donations of money or other items. This could be frustrating, but it helped to consider that I might behave similarly if my own life had taken such a desperate turn during a time of civil war. At the same time, the country's natural beauty is stunning, and I'll never forget driving past lines of children walking proudly to school in their clean and colourful uniforms. The early morning sight of them talking and laughing always struck me as a cheerful and hopeful sign, especially against a background of derelict or burnt-out buildings.