slideshow

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. A diamond diggers working at the mine. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond diggers working at the mine. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Portrait of a diamond digger at the mine.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. A diamond digger is discussing about money issues with his boss. Normally these workers work for two bowls of rice. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond diggers working at the mine. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. A miner working in a private family run mine in Kaidu, surroundings of Koidu. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond diggers working at the mine. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond diggers washing themselves and their clothes under heavy rain at Sweet Mother's Mine. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. A diamond digger working at Sweet Mother's Mine. Normally these workers work for two bowls of rice a day. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. A miner washing gravel in a private family run mine in Kaidu, surroundings of Koidu. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond diggers working at Sweet Mother's Mine under heavy rain. Normally these workers work for two bowls of rice a day. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale minin

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Portrait of a young boy, he is a miner working in a private family run mine in Kaidu, surroundings of Koidu. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Mani Lebbie washing second hand gravel that the rain washed out of concession of Koidu Holdings. Here he shows a small diamond he just found. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond diggers discussing about money issues with their boss. Normally these workers work for two bowls of rice. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond Dealer Salimu Conteh checks stones; he is Vice Chairman of Diamond Dealers´ Association of Kono district, born in Gambia, two wifes, seven children. He wants some of them to study in the US. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Kai David Mboma the "Mandela of Kono", in his new house in the Resettlement Camp outside of Koidu, he went to prison because he fought for the rights of his community Sokogbeh, that wil be relocated due to the blastings of Koidu Holdings. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. War amputee Tamba Njaujah, his hands have been cut off bny rebels of RUF during the war; in his house, sourrounded by some of his ten kidse. In Kono District, diamond mining town of Koidu, artisanal mining takes place in the mud/gravel pits that surround the town to the north, south and west. Koidus "diamond-diggers" are mostly freelance workers who are paid a subsistence wage. At least 13 million people worldwide from over 30 developing countries engage in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Koidu, Sierra Leone - August 2008. Diamond Dealer Salimu Conteh checks a stone; he is Vice Chairman of Diamond Dealers´ Association of Kono district, born in Gambia, two wifes, seven children. He wants some of them to study in the US. Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth. In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process.