Little ripples make big waves

When Tenneh put her oar in the river and rowed to school for the first time, she set off a ripple of possibility.

I met Tenneh while documenting stories fo Save the Children in Sierra Leone. She attends a Save the Children supported school and shared her story with me.

Photo credit: Jonathan Hyams / Save the Children

Tenneh lives in a small fishing village, tucked into a riverbank in Pujehun district, Sierra Leone. It’s separated from the mainland by lakes and you can only get there by boat.

The water is a way of life for families here - their transport and their livelihood. Homes dot the riverbank; some made from concrete, some from earth. Chickens roam freely. Palm trees with coconuts are scattered between the homes, where people gather, talk, and relax. 

Tenneh stands outside her family home wearing a blue and grey marbled skirt that mirrors the water. Her expression is one of deep thought. Until she breaks out into a grin.

Photo credit: Tom Maguire / Save the Children

“The school is beautiful, and the teacher likes me. Whatever we need they will provide for us.

I love social studies. When the teacher gives us homework and we submit it, he corrects us nicely. In the morning, he walks around just to make sure that we are all in school. He takes good care of us.

I want to be educated and help my parents. Now I want to be a nurse,” Tenneh says.

Now Tenneh’s school stands out, with students achieving above the national average in their exams.