Makon Koroma, Guinea "I would love to read and write"

Makon Koroma, who is Guinean, is concerned about what will happen to her life when the 18,000 Liberian refugees living on her doorstep pack up and go home. She and her aging mother run a small stall at the market just beyond the boundary of the Laine refugee camp, selling batteries, pens, biscuit and other basics.

“Though the townspeople buy more from me than the Liberians, they do come here for some things - batteries and school stuff for the children.

The refugees are here in town, there has been no bad feeling towards them and anyway they are good for business. I will be sad to see them go as we are used to living together and also because I will lose customers!

I’ve had the stall for 10 years, since my husband died, the stall used to be his business. I’m 35 now. Before I had the stall I used to farm but that alone did not provide enough for me and my children, especially if I wanted to send them to school.

The business has grown these 10 years. When I first started it was just a small tabletop affair with a few cigarettes, matches and biscuits. But now, as you can see, it’s much bigger selling more things and we have a steel roof.

Though what you see now is not as big as the stall has been. My funds are a bit depleted at the moment as I had to provide all my four children with equipment for the start of school. Even my oldest, who is 18, is still studying in the capital Conakry. He lives with his father’s brother, but it is me that pays for his education - every four months or so I have to send him 200,000 Guinea Francs [US $40]. It is difficult, but I manage.

I myself can’t read or write. I didn’t go to school, though I wish I had. I would love to read and write. I want my children to be educated. They are all boys and it is very important to their future - but even if I had a girl I would make sure she went to school.

It is good for the Liberians that they are going back, that they are going home. But it is with God how we find life without them.”