Hello world!!!
Hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing well, thanks to the Almighty. As some of you may know from my previous blog posts and facebook updates, I am currently in Kono, Sierra Leone doing an internship with Koidu Limited (Part of Octea Mining). I work Mondays (8am-5pm) to Saturdays (half day, 8am~12:30pm or later); on scheduled blasting days (Tuesdays and Fridays), I get off later. A couple of weeks ago, I got to work lengthily with the Blasting department and even got to ignite the fuse for the blast, make sure you check out a video I recorded of this moment on my Youtube channel.
 |
| Life at Koidu Limited - Part of Octea Mining Holes that have been charged and stemmed for blasting |
One of the awesome things about my job at Koidu Ltd is that I get to work with other departments of the company besides mining. This past Tuesday, I got to spend a day with the Community Development department and shadowed the Department's Head, Henry Vaag, along with his volunteer, Bisatu. Being that it was a blasting day, I escorted Mr. Vaag and Bisatu around town to make sure residents living close to the mine and hazardous blast areas surrounding evacuated before the blasting happens at 5pm. After the blasting, Mr. Vaag also goes around town to check the status of homes in the community and make sure they were not affected by the blast and residents were safe in the Safe Blasting Zones; there was only one incident in which a flyrock hit the roof of a zinc home that's was covered with a tapoline. The fallen rock was collected as well as information about this shelter; it was immediately arranged for the roofing to be fixed on that day for that house. Instances such as this rarely happen, because Koidu Limited created a Resettlement Program for the community in which they built homes for families that's farther away from areas that could be affected from the blasting, and gives the families an opportunity to move away from their former houses that are unsafe for blasting purposes.
 |
| Octea Mining Intern and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson with Mr. Sahr Randolph Fillie-Faboi |
 |
| Kimbadu Community Healthcare Centre |
On Wednesday, I got to spend another day with the Community Development's Head, Mr. Vaag, along with his volunteer, Bisatu. While in town, we paid a visit to the Kimbadu Community Healthcare Centre in Kimbadu. This center was funded and built by Koidu Limited - Part of Octea Mining, and formally opened in November 2011. The building was officially opened by Mr. Andrew Hart, Vice President of the Tiffany & Co. I spoke with the hospital staff and interacted with few patients during my visit, and got to learn about the history of the Centre. I'm pictured with one of the cutie patients, Little Mr. Mac.
 |
| Left-Right: Ibrahim Jalloh, CHO (Community Health Officer), Octea Mining Intern and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, Agnes K. Ansumana, SECHN (State Enroll Community Health Nurse), and Elizabeth M. Saquee, MCHA (Maternal and Child Health Aide) |
 |
| Octea Mining Intern and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 with little cutie patient, Mac |
 |
| Kimbadu Community Health Centre built by Koidu Limited - Octea Foundation |
 |
| Kumba, Market woman at Kimbadu Local Market, with daughter and customer |
This is Kumba, one of the market women at Kimbadu Local Market. Carry her beautiful daughter and attending to customers, she spoke with me for a while about the activities of the market and interesting facts about the people of Kimbadu and Kono District. Check out the beautiful and natural color of the palm oil she's selling.
 |
| Food (palm oil, pepper, etc.) display at Kimbadu Local Market |
Fambul den, this is Salone!!!
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.
Like my Facebook Page & Follow me on Twitter (@MissSaloneUSA)
No comments:
Post a Comment