Woman with Disability Pleads for Support to Continue Course in Computer Science 

By Ibrahim S. Bangura 

Aminata Mansaray, a person living with disability in Kissy in the east of Freetown, on Tuesday September 5th, 2023 asked for Government of Sierra Leone and Non-governmental Organizations to fund her continue her studies in Computer Science, which she could not complete some years ago due to lack of finances.

She has a she is lame in one of her legs and she could walk but with much difficulty.

 “My mother died when I was a teenager. My father whom I was left with was an old man. I had no one supporting me then. I was discriminated and rejected in my community, and up till now I am experiencing such.  Since I was all alone, and I had no source of income to take care of myself, I started laundering clothes for people. But I did not continue because of the discrimination I used to face from customers. Later, I had to involve in stone mining and breaking rocks into smaller pieces to sell to customers. This is what I have been doing to take care of myself,” she concluded.

Mansaray started a course in Computer Science at the Murialdo Institute of Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MIMETECH) in 2009 after she graduated from High School in 2008.

After completing the first year at the institute, she could not proceed to the second due to lack of finances.

According to her, because education is the key to success and People Living with Disabilities are less recognized in Sierra Leone, she decided to apply for the institute so as to acquire formal education in preparation for the future.

 “Because I love education and I don’t want to involve in street begging in the future as some of my colleagues are doing, I decided to apply to read Computer Science, but the situation did not allow me to continue even though I tried street begging, petty trading and many other things to raise funds. My passion for education is so great that I will love to continue up to master’s level if I have the opportunity,” she said.

She said that after she was unable to continue her studies, she was engaged to a man who has left her with three children. “I don’t know whether it is because of my condition or the present situation of the country that made my husband to leave me with our three children. The little I am earning from the sales of cold water and other petty trade items is what I am using to take care of my children; including their schooling, food, shelter and many other things. So I am appealing to the Government and other humanitarian organizations to help continue my studies at Murialdo, which would help reduce poverty in my family,” she said. 

Mansaray, became a disable at a very young age. She was born and raised in Kuntolor, a community on the hills overlooking Kissy, in the east of Freetown.

According to her, she had never enjoyed any aspect of life since she was born.