Meet Fatima

Late last week, I learned that one of my colleagues, Fatima, had barely eaten in two weeks. She was exhausted, and it was impacting her ability to get her stories done on a daily basis.

When I asked her why she hadn't eaten, Fatima said she just wasn't hungry and the doctors couldn't seem to figure out why. Today, much to her displeasure, one of her colleagues filled me in on the real reason: Her boyfriend "doesn't like women who eat too much." He's allegedly broken up with her twice over the matter, and taken her back only after much begging and pleading.

If Fatima weighs more than 100 lbs., I'd be shocked.

She's a smart, beautiful girl, who is well-respected by her colleagues for her integrity and devotion to the Muslim faith - or "prayerfulness", as Sheik calls it, usually while trying to steal a kiss on the cheek.

In between her work as a journalist and passionate advocate of child and maternal health issues, she has also found time to write a film addressing many of the social concerns facing Sierra Leoneans.

And yet she's dating a guy whose conception of love involves asking her to starve?

I can deal with a newsroom bereft of equipment even bordering on modern, and I can deal with reporters who are essentially without training of any kind. I can even deal with ministries and government officials that deem it acceptable to daily dodge the interviews they've scheduled with my reporters, in a transparent attempt to sidestep accountability.

But this ... this absolutely breaks my heart.


Editor's note: For another good example of some of the challenges typically faced by JHR trainers, check out this excellent blog reflection by my roommate and colleague, Bryna. Our placements are pretty different and this particular issue hasn't been one that's really surfaced for me, as Kalleone reporters are paid the same in a given month regardless of output. But February was more than half over before they were paid for January at all, so the system clearly has its flaws as well.