Interactive Map of Makeni
Background to Makeni
Makeni is the capital of the Northern Province, the poorest of Sierra Leone’s four provinces. 110 miles N.E. of Freetown,
it is home town to President Ernest Bai Koroma. Makeni's population is c. 100,000, most of whom are Limba or Temne.
In the final phase of the war, the rebel RUF made Makeni their base. The town was comprehensively looted and regular
economic life died. Children and youths were conscripted and girls taken as 'rebel-wives'.
Today, Makeni's market is again lively, however life is still incredibly difficult. Electricity and pipe-born water are
absent. Literacy and standards of health are among the lowest in the country. And many children roam the streets,
with nowhere else they call home ...
By day the street children hang around the lorry park or market trying to scrape their existence.
By night they sleep in empty shelters or cinemas (such as the KK) - while many girls resort to 'working' in
Flamingo disco. Contact with the police is an aspect of daily life - but access to even the dilapidated hospital
is a distant dream. However a short walk from down-town, the SCoSL children’s centre offers respite – and hope ...
