Following the Civil War in Sierra Leone (1992 – 2001) a group of war widows formed a co-operative in Newton called the Women Petty Traders. They are market traders scratching a living by selling what they can grow and what they can make. They have children to support and often older relatives to look after too. Here are some quotes from some letters given to Rena during her last visit in April 2006.
I am also a petty trader selling all types of vegetables and I am a gardener. We live in a house compassing 2 rooms and a parlour built of mud blocks and covered with a plastic sheet.
I am 42 years old and 4foot 6 inches tall and black in complexion. I have 6 children. They are all school goers.
I am a petty trader but since the war took place in our country they smash all what we have to take care of our family. My husband is out of a job and our children help to work at the garden after school and at week ends.
I am a petty trader having a small type of business in which I manage to take care of my family and sustain our lives. We live in a small village with 5 houses including mine which has 2 rooms and a parlour with a bare floor.