Listening, Learning, Growing: Amie’s Story from Sierra Leone

Listening, Learning, Growing: Amie’s Story from Sierra Leone

Amie John is a farmer from Lambo, a community in Sierra Leone’s Eastern Province. Amie never had the opportunity to attend school and cannot read or write.

Today, she is learning in a different way. Through the DAF app, developed and powered by SkillEd, Amie can listen to audio lessons, watch videos and use pictures to study different farming practices.

We spoke to Amie about her farm, what she has learned through DAF and her hopes for the future.

Amie, tell us a little about yourself and your farm.

I am 50 years old and live in Lambo with my family. I have five children, and I am responsible for supporting my household.

I farm ten acres of land that I inherited from my father. My father was already supplying cocoa to Tradin Organic, and I became a cocoa supplier myself about five years ago.

In 2023 I joined the DAF project, and I have learned a lot since then. I am part of a farmer group of 21 people, and everyone in our village is part of the group.

What has changed on your farm since you started using the DAF approach?

Before, I mainly relied on the traditional way of farming. Cocoa was the most important crop, and my income depended largely on it.

We are now growing different crops alongside the cocoa, including annual crops such as cassava, maize and pigeon pea. We can harvest and sell these crops, which means that the plot is already generating more income than we were getting from the old system.

How do you use the DAF app for learning?

I cannot read and write, but the app gives me another way to learn. The audio explanations are clear, and I can listen to the information and use the pictures and videos to understand what I am supposed to do.

I usually study in the evening, after I have finished my work on the farm.

What difference has the new way of farming made for you and your family?

The farm provides all of our income. One of the things that makes me happiest is that I can send all my children to school.

Four of them attend school here in the community, while my oldest child goes to school in Bo.

When you look ahead, what do you hope for?

I hope the farm will become more productive and that I will continue to learn through the DAF app.

I want to have a good income from the farm so that I can support myself and my children and give them a good future.