Salone Diary
Salone Diary consists of the chronicles of Sierra Leone written by David LaMattina, from Brownstones crew, during their two-week stay at Freetown, Sierra Leone, for their latest documentary Brownstones, Red Dirt.
Salone Diary narrates a vivid account of the life in Sierra Leone, written in narrative style. It is very insightful, about a world which is hidden from the mainstream view. The Brownstones crew had already filmed children from Brooklyn, in which children shared their thoughts about their schools, future, etc. In Salone Diary the crew describe their meetings and interview with refugee children from Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Although these two group of children live thousand of miles apart from each other, in almost two different worlds, they are connected with each other through the RESPECT Letter Exchange Program.
Dave shared his experience in Salone Diary, when refugee children in Sierra Leone received letters from their pen pals in Brooklyn. "These kids have nothing and with each letter they get from Brooklyn,they gain another possession. It's quite a gift and they treat it delicately, examining it with care while they try to decipher what their pen pal's life might be like."
The diary starts with the eventful escapade from New York to Sierra Leone. All the apprehension about Sierra Leone were calmed by picturesque beach, clear water and white sand. The crew's first day with children was delightful and heartwarming. As Dave wrote: "I wish I could describe how wonderful the next hour was, but I know I will fail to do it justice." The crew were offered the school's only desk with chair to sit. It was placed in the centre and children were sitting around them.
Salone Diary tells us the story of refugee children of Sierra Leone, children who have lost their families in war. Some of them have witnessed brutal murders of their loved ones. As Dave mentioned: "These children need to be heard and we've taken on the challenge to show what their lives are like."
Despite their tragedies, children have not lost hope. They have the ambition to prove themselves and the humility to appreciate what they have.
Emmanuel, 14 years of age, wants to be an electrician. The rebels killed his mother and he laid with her body three days before his Aunt Musa took him with her. He had convinced a carpenter to make a battery carriage and with technical wizadry he managed to provide light in all the rooms to show his appreciation to "Aunty Musa" for taking care of him.
Aunty Musa is the headmistress of the school. She adopted Emmanuel and Balla, both of whom lost their families to the war. Balla wants to be a painter, so that one day, "people will look at his work on their wall and say that Balla from Sierra Leone did it." Both Emmanuel and Balla are featured in the documentary.
The children of Sierra Leone, despite social and environmental constraints, dream to make this world a better place.
I'll conclude with a parting message from Dave: "We thank you for reading these and hope that when we share these children and their stories with you, you'll never forget them either."