A busy day of surveying began with a meeting at the World Hope office to regroup and prepare for the day. We took a 20 minute drive to a village called Patebama which was desecrated by the 2014 ebola outbreak. As we entered, we saw a large cemetery in the distance which we found out was the cemetery for victims of ebola (see photo below).

We waited to speak with the village chief once we arrived before proceeding with our surveying to ensure that we had his approval. He was very welcoming and accommodating to us on short notice since we didn’t have any contacts in Patebama beforehand. We noticed today that many more respondents said they knew people who had ebola than other places we have surveyed and were still open to talking to us which we were a little surprised about given the stigma surrounding the virus in Salone.

We saw a group of baby ducklings while interviewing, which was definitely one of the highlights of the day. In addition, we saw a water well in the center of the village which was built and sponsored by World Hope International. It was great to see some of the efforts WHI has implemented in the community and their effects on the health and well being of  villages everywhere.

We completed 30 surveys today, which was right on target to reaching our goal, so we had a very successful and rewarding day. Every day in the field brings about new experiences, perspectives, and people and gets us closer to understanding Sierra Leone and how our project can constantly adapt with everything we learn. We’re ready for another packed day tomorrow of surveying!