-
The Inspiring Journey of Sorie Sesay: Overcoming Down Syndrome Stigma in Sierra Leone
Adama Fofanah is a mother whose love, courage, and determination saved her son’s life and gave him a future filled with hope. Sorie Sesay, who is her son, lives with Down syndrome. His condition did not show at birth, until after six months. Like any other day Adama left Sorie in the care of a relative to fetch water from one of the streams at her village to do some chores. When she returned, her world turned upside down; she met Sorie paralyzed, without any explanation from those who had watched him. The community, lacking understanding, began to spread harmful rumours, branding him a “devil child” and claiming he was…
-
Therapeutic Laziness: Why Rest is the New Power Against Hustle Culture in 2025
September is often framed as the month of seriousness. In many places, it signals the return to routine! Children in uniform, offices brimming with renewed intensity, and a cultural expectation to shake off the languor of summer. In some African cities, September means traffic grows thicker, schools resume their bustling cadence, and social calendars speed up. For professionals in the diaspora, it is the sprint to year-end deliverables; for those shuttling between two or more homes, the reminder of competing obligations across continents and cultures. But in September 2025, the narrative has shifted. A quiet, intentional rebellion is taking place. Across Lagos, Johannesburg, Nairobi, London, Toronto, and Atlanta, people are…
-
Curiosity as a Catalyst for Growth: How Asking Questions Drives Personal, Social, and Innovative Success
In the grand African tradition of storytelling and questioning, curiosity stands as a mighty catalyst- one that does more than just scratch the surface of things. It is the humbling, insatiable force that propels personal transformation, fuels ground-breaking innovation, and weaves the intricate threads of community connection. Curiosity, at its core, is the bold art of asking “Why?” and “What if?” and not resting until the depths of understanding are plumbed. Cultivating Curiosity: The Root of Self-Awareness Curiosity pushes the mind to venture beyond the familiar, catalysing continuous learning and self-discovery. Science shows that curious people engage brain circuits associated with reward and learning, releasing dopamine, ever heard about the…
-
The Back-to-School Survival Guide for Parents in West Africa: Managing Stress, Costs, and New Routines
When Mariama, a mother of three in Freetown, was asked how she feels about the start of the school year, she laughed nervously: “It is like running a marathon without training. One day it’s holidays, the next day you are standing in the market arguing about shoe prices and searching for a missing belt.” Across Sierra Leone and West Africa, Mariama’s words echo in countless homes. The back-to-school rush is not just about sharpened pencils and new timetables: it is about the emotional, financial, and logistical weight that families carry every year. And the numbers back the stories. Mental health: The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 7 adolescents…
