From Kono, With Dignity

From Kono, With Dignity works to capture the lives of the people in rural Sierra Leone. The Kono tribe, in the Kono district makes up a small percentage of the Sierra Leonian population, with only one hundred thousand people speaking the native language. From Kono, With Dignity is the documentation of the Kono tribe and the support from International Mutual Aid. International Mutual Aid has worked in the region for over ten years providing free medical care to the people. Providing free medicine, diagnosis and support the group has drastically improved the life expectancy and quality of life in the region. My work aims to capture all the intricate moments from clinic work, to cooking and the routines required to survive in the region. With dwindling clean water sources, approaching violence from Guinea and internal struggle, the region is in flux. Despite continued struggle the Kono people continue to participate in rich cultural traditions. Including dance, ceremonies, cooking, birthing practices and farming. Surviving on the bush (jungle) and family farming, the people of Gbamandu often face malnutrition, water born illnesses, and other life threatening illness or injury. From Kono follows in tandem the work of International Mutual Aid. An organization which effectively cut the maternity death rate down to 0 from 1 in 20 women. Without a single maternal death in over 7 years, this feat saved lives of women all over the region. From Kono, With Dignity is a visual story of the Kono people and its traditions, coupled with life saving aid work.