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 possessed.

What Adama and Sorie faced is sadly not unique. Across the world, Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 1,000 to 1,100 live births, with higher rates in low- and middle-income countries. In many African communities, children born with the condition are hidden away, stigmatized, or as in Sorie’s case; endangered by harmful cultural myths. In fact, in some places children have been labelled as curses or spirits, rather than recognized for their humanity and potential.

As days went by, things only grew worse. Adama left her village briefly for a business trip, and on her return her son was nowhere to be found. Desperate, she asked her sister-in-law to whom she had entrusted him. The chilling response was: “He has turned into a snake.” Refusing to accept such cruelty, Adama went searching for her baby. Her heart sank when she discovered a freshly dug grave by the stream- the villagers had planned to bury Sorie alive. With urgency and bravery, she reported the incident to the police, and miraculously, Sorie was rescued just in time.

The threats, however, did not end there. The leader of the mob swore that neither Adama nor her son would live in peace. Fearing for their lives, mother and child fled to Freetown. Alone with six children to care for, Adama felt crushed by despair. But hope found her again through a kind stranger who introduced her to World Hope International (WHI).

After registering with WHI, the organization provided immediate support with food supplies and began interventions that transformed Sorie’s life. With therapy and care, he began to walk at the age of three and a half. Later, when mainstream schooling proved difficult due to his speech challenges, WHI sponsored him to learn tailoring and even provided him with his own sewing machine. Today, Sorie attends tailoring classes and is well on his way to economic independence. His teacher proudly shares that he can now sew clothes for himself and his siblings, even gifting his mother a gown stitched with his own hands.

Adama continues to provide for her family by selling vegetables, carrying the strength of a woman who has faced unimaginable trials yet remains unbroken. Her son, once rejected, is now shaping a future of dignity through skill and resilience.

Sorie’s story mirrors a bigger truth: children with Down syndrome can thrive when given love, protection, and opportunity. In South Africa, for instance, Shéri Brynard, born with Down syndrome, defied expectations to become a teaching assistant and an international self-advocate. In Nigeria, Moyosore Ijale speaks boldly as a Down syndrome ambassador, proving that voices once silenced can become voices of change. Parents, too, like Mrs. Rose Mordi, who founded the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria, have fought tirelessly to create pathways of support and inclusion. Across the continent, organizations like Down Syndrome South Africa and the Africa Down Syndrome Network are challenging stigma and calling for better healthcare, education, and recognition of rights.

The statistics remind us that while survival for children with Down syndrome has improved worldwide, far too many in low-resource settings still die young: not from the condition itself, but from preventable causes like untreated infections and congenital heart defects. Stigma, myths, and neglect remain deadly barriers. Yet, Sorie’s journey shows another path: with early intervention, support, and skills training, children once deemed “cursed” can become men and women of purpose, pride, and independence.

From nearly being buried alive to learning a craft and building a future, Sorie’s story is not only about survival. It is about what is possible when courage meets compassion. His life, and the lives of countless others like him, remind us of a simple but urgent truth: every child deserves to be seen, valued, and given a chance to shine.

Disclaimer: This story is shared by Ariana Diaries purely to spread light, not to sell anything. We are not affiliated with or sponsored by World Hope International. Consider this our small way of amplifying humanity: because hope is too good not to be shared.