A Photographer’s Encounter in Kroo Bay

Photos and Story by Dominic Chavez

Recently while working in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone to document maternal and infant mortality issues, the ministry of health was launching a free health-care program for pregnant women and children under five. I had planned to stay after my contract was over, in hopes of sharing more time with Sierra Leone mothers and their families and to make known the difficulties they live every day.

My plans quickly changed after meeting a wonderful family who lived underneath a small bridge in Freetown. I was surprised by the amount of raw sewage and the lack of clean water. After visiting this family a couple more times they told me there were communities in Freetown much worse.

This was when I first heard of Kroo Bay, a difficult slum filled with good families and shanty structures overrun with garbage, extreme sanitation issues, and a long list of health conditions due to the lack of clean water. Some of the biggest issues they are facing are polio, ringworm, typhoid fever and malaria, not to forget a high incidence of child malnutrition.

For little over a week, I spent as much time as possible documenting the community. These families lived in some of the worse conditions I have seen, yet they opened their makeshift homes and offered what little they had. Many homes had hard packed dirt floors, no windows, no doors and with poor roofing materials to shelter them from the heat and rain.

Within minutes of entering the community, I stood shoulder to shoulder, making pictures of children digging in heaps of trash and pools of blackened water. I walked slowly introducing myself with a soft voice and sometimes placing my hand over my heart to show my respect. As I walked deeper into the neighborhood and slowly made pictures, I was feeling overwhelmed, almost frozen. At that moment I heard a man screaming from maybe 25 feet away, I lowered my camera slowly and saw no one moving except one, he was marching towards me. He was enraged. He had open sores all along his arms and was built like a malnourished body builder. At this point I was reminded I had broken my first rule of always creating a simple exit (just in case), there was nothing I could do except to face him.

He unloaded and was venting his frustrations. After a few minutes, I interrupted him and told him, your anger is why I'm here! It silenced him for a second and then he burst loudly with laughter - he laughed with his mouth wide open pointing towards the sky.

He then asked me: you want to know the truth? We're all suffering here in Kroo Bay. He began talking about the water issues again and showing me his arms with open sores, "you see these, they move at night" - he was talking about the worms in his body. I continued listening humbly as he talked, after a few more minutes he was aware we could help one another and began introducing me to his family and friends.

My hope is never to take pictures or shoot pictures, but to share the experience and the moment with the people I'm photographing. It's important to me that they feel I am not there to take something from them.

I think this time isn’t only speek or think that whatwe for pollution this time need for action

— rohit on 2010-07-29

Good

— S.N.Mwaniki on 2010-07-30

Hi Dominic,
We work in Sierra Leone, providing eco-sanitation, water and livelihood, mainly in rural communities in the southeast of the country. But we are applying for funding to work in areas of Freetown such as Kroo Bay - would it be possible to make contact, to use some of your photos and discuss your experience?
Thank you, Richard

— Richard Napper on 2010-08-02

Good discovery Dominic. We have similar, if not worse, places in Nigeria. Come to Makoko in Lagos you will wonder whether those people are still Nigerians. God’s creation are confined to such uninhabitable places because of leadership irresponsibility and insensitivity. Look around such slums you will see opulence and callousness all around them.

God bless you in your work.

— Rev Okechukwu Iro on 2010-08-02

there should less air pollution

— azhar on 2010-08-07

Really it is very terrible and shocking and pain-able to see how humans live in miserable conditions,My request to world leaders, in spite of spending money on nuclear weapons should spend on to develop the living standard of such people.

— dhiman jai gopal on 2010-08-08

Nice.

— abhijeet bharat on 2010-08-09

Gr8 one. One should know about all these problems going on in this era. Now this is my humble request to ministry-level people or leaders to take some sort of serious action against all this to fulfill the requirements of these people and to have a healthy and better life.

— Sonali Mathur on 2010-08-12

As a photographer and HIV/AIDS activist, I completely identify with your final statement: “My hope is never to take pictures or shoot pictures, but to share the experience and the moment with the people I’m photographing. It’s important to me that they feel I am not there to take something from them.”
Yet I often find it challenging to relay that shared moment with those in positions of power who ultimately determine the destiny of the people, in a way that allows my photos to document the reality on the ground in a way that leads to positive and sustainable change.

— Aliza Waxman on 2010-08-16

Thank you for sharing your experiences in Kroo Bay. I’d never heard of the area before. You handled a scary situation with intelligence, compassion and tact. Well done.

— G. Johnson on 2010-08-23

Really thats so kind of u.many pple r out their,enjoyg thier money without knowing what others r going through.I pray may God deliver them,cos He is d only one who can save them.Thanks

— Abdulhameed on 2010-08-24

I agree with this,this is true

— roshan on 2010-08-28

it awesome report

— Md Ejazul Haque on 2010-08-30

we need to start helping now….or else… nothing will happen…. i’m still a student but i really want to help in anyways…. we should approach the higher ministry for this…

— Josef on 2010-09-02

Its the same story all over the poor nations. Will the human civilisation last for more than say 50 years the way we are going? And whatever little we do to better the thing around us, it is like a drop in the ocean! time is running fast for all of us.All readers please sensitise your surroundings. Its the final countdown.

— khyati mathur on 2010-09-09

i deeply feel sorry for those who are close to the areas that are full of pollution. we can make this world a better world if we all work together.

— Eliza Sailas on 2010-09-13

giving me awareness about pollution.Thank you.

— s.kiruthika on 2010-09-13

I feel bad to live in this polluted world

— chandana on 2010-09-14

Indeed it was an eye opener for those ill-informed like me. Thank you…

— B.Mjele on 2010-09-14

Please save people.

— sam on 2010-09-17

Hey that’s really terrific. Our people our leaders, need to concentrate on these matters. It is too inhumane that none of us are bothered about them. In this world of globalisation I don’t think its a problem that cant be sorted out. You keep on.

— sakshi suhag on 2010-09-18

What a great report it is! Kudos.

— Sahab Shabbir on 2010-09-19

thanks u have given me awareness about pollution

— zawiya on 2010-09-21

Enviroment is life of as so save a tree, save the planet.

— aditya on 2010-09-26

I want information about India and the environment and pollution.

— vijaykumar on 2010-10-01

Global warming is a big issue nowadays. How to stop? Use cycles,don’t use vehicles. Stop auto and industrial pollution. Don’t cut the trees. Don’t use the a/c and refrigerator. Save petrol and diesel. Stop spreading diseases. Be safe with when in direct sunlight.

— praveen on 2010-10-01

Usually pollution used to be seen in cities or poor countries in africa and sometimes in the poor Asian countries. Any how the only way to help these peoples is to focus on their problems and invest some money through some projects in preventing or controling the pollution in those countries with the help of GEF, UNDP,FAO and other referring organizations.

— mahmood.moghimi on 2010-10-02

WATER IS A LIFE,SAVE WATER SAVE EARTH.

— ABHISHEK .A. ANURAGI on 2010-10-02

What is the effect in industrial areas, air and water assement in different seasons.

— aviansh on 2010-10-03

It is a time to do for nature and, of course, for our next genration.

— snehal on 2010-10-03

NICE

— surya on 2010-10-07

We should save the environment..think about it..you will realize your duty.

— Krupa on 2010-10-08

It’s very nice. It gives the idea how to save our earth. I think we should not pollute our environment. Save water.  Save environment.

— divya sinha on 2010-10-22

saving our mother earth [environment] is a resposiblity of all

— amit saini on 2010-10-24

earth is important for all so, please help and co-operate to save earth

— amit saini on 2010-10-24

wow, its a pity. pollution is a terrible thing, it must be curtailed and it starts with YOU! lets help be better in our actions.

— ashley adams on 2010-10-25

Indeed it is an on-going problem not only in Kroo Bay but also in other parts of the world, especially in some parts of Juba South Sudan. Thus, Environmental pollution is the next enemy at the gate due to unmanaged waste, disporsed irresponsibly. The concerned Governments should open their eyes before they end the upcoming generation.

— Mori Moses Sworo on 2010-10-26

ONE MAN IS SEEING EVERYTHING SO WE ALSO MUST DO OUR BIT TO KEEP OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN

— TIXSON DSILVA on 2010-11-07

Story is same in India. But we the people should think about our carelessness and mental set up about our own responsibilities towards the improvements and social responsibilities. We are not taking any efforts only we are spending our maximum time in telling story and proving our self great and different from others.

— vikas patil on 2010-11-13

Please save our environment.

— ravindra on 2010-11-26

Its realy nice that there is still someone who is looking after for such things. I think now the government should take some actions against it. And India is also going through the same situation.

— bhumika shrimali on 2010-11-29

it is the right time to work against pollution. In my valley the green wood slowly disappearing. once it was all green. we need support. North Guwahati, Assam, india

— Md Najrul Ali on 2010-12-02

it is a important thing

— harshan on 2010-12-02

i think it is very bad condition for our cities.

— DILDAR ALI on 2010-12-15

what a good idea to save the population! and earth.

— prashant vishwakarma on 2010-12-15

As a photographer and HIV/AIDS activist, I completely identify with your final statement: “My hope is never to take pictures or shoot pictures, but to share the experience and the moment with the people I’m photographing. It’s important to me that they feel I am not there to take something from them.”
Yet I often find it challenging to relay that shared moment with those in positions of power who ultimately determine the destiny of the people, in a way that allows my photos to document the reality on the ground in a way that leads to positive and sustainable change.

— akash chourasiya on 2010-12-15

earth is like our mother, pls save our mother, dont make her angry

— Jegan AM on 2010-12-16 on 2010-12-16

Dear All,

I’m a student in South East Asia University. I ask say thanks too, because I need your document for my exercice.

Thank you,
Best Regard.

— Chhoeun Rathana on 2010-12-16

so nice sir. sir my name is sunder i am from india so i have global pollution short film concept so plz help me

— sundre on 2010-12-18

story is same in india th people should think about our carelessness mental setup about our responsibilities towards the improvements and socil responsibilits but we are not taking any efforts we are speding more time in teling story and proving self great and different from others

— sridhar on 2010-12-24

people have to need cleanliness and fresh breath and daily bath and think to do every person to need cleanliness

— munawar shaikh on 2010-12-25

Excellent. Expecting Good articles like this.

Thanks

— Krishna Kumar on 2010-12-26

pleaze get up and do something in this context… only that will help save our earth and living beings residing it.

— monisha on 2011-01-03

LETS SAVE OUR EARTH BY NOT WASTING WATER,BY NOT BURNING PLASTIC,WASTE,ETC,BY NOT LEFTING CHEMICALS IN THE OCEANS AND MANY WAYS TO PROTECTOU PLANBET EARTH.

— Talib on 2011-01-19

stop the global warming

— vikram singh on 2011-01-20

Hello, I am a student from Myanmar. I found this topic when I was searching for my project. I really like it and it’s GOOD TOO!

— Phu Pwint@Joanne on 2011-01-24

This is true with every developing country. It shows the lack of awareness of those who suffer about their right to have a clean environment (water,air and surroundings) for their living.

I am from India. I found this topic while gathering information to fight against air pollution caused by a factory right in the middle of a vast residential area.

Our efforts to get justice from authorities   failed.

— Shaji Mathew on 2011-01-26

I want to know the idea for protecting the world from pollution

— saravana on 2011-01-31

i am from surat in india.I found this topic while gathering information to fight against air pollution caused by a factory right in the middle of a vast residential area.

— mukesh patel on 2011-01-31

hi. iam muhsin from arafa school of atoor kerala india.this is very good info about health.

— muhsin riyas cm on 2011-02-03

is there information on mumbai recent pollution

— parth bhagat on 2011-02-25

WE SHOULD TAKE A IMMEDIATE ACTION TO STOP THIS.

— JYOTI on 2011-02-27

i need information on enviromental toxicology in crude oil pollution thank.

— ademola taoreed on 2011-03-06

looking at this make me feel SAD and i think that we should help our community

— yaressy estrada on 2011-03-10

it`s a very good programme of showing such photos and making people aware of pollution and uncleanliness… thank you…..

— asritha on 2011-03-11

It make very feel and making people aware of pollution .

— guna on 2011-03-27

your research sounded interesting but i would like to get some quotings on garbage and health and the age group of individuals that are most prone to contracting diseases affiliated with improper garbage disposal

— nessa on 2011-04-07

invention done on how we can control pollution, and save erath from globle warming by india.

— ayubkhan babi on 2011-04-19

pollution is very bad

— saksham on 2011-04-28

thanks
    i am from pakistan we have also tremendous pollution

now this is the time for doing some thing for our home (earth).

— adnan on 2011-05-10