Other

BBC World Service News Internet

Assignment

Factual

Investigations and journeys into the heart of global events from BBC correspondents.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Assignment: Sierra Leone: The price of going home

Documentaries

News

Sierra Leone - the price of going home

14/11/2019 GMT

Sierra Leone: The price of going home

BBC World Service - Assignment, Sierra Leone: The price of going home

What happens to migrants who give up trying to reach Europe – and go home as failures?

Three young West Africans went through hell on their quest for a better life. Then they turned back. They’ve all done wrong to their families. Now they must face the consequences.

Fatmata, Jamilatu and Alimamy all see themselves as failures. They’re young Sierra Leoneans who risked everything for the sake of a better life in Europe. Along the way, they were imprisoned and enslaved. They saw friends die. Eventually, they gave up. Now, they’re home again - facing the devastating consequences of what they did to their families before they left, actions that have left them ostracised by their nearest and dearest. Who will help them to survive back home? Can they rebuild their lives, and achieve any reconciliation with their parents?  And if they can’t, will they be tempted to set off again, to seek their fortunes abroad?

Reporter: Tim Whewell

(Photo: An awkward embrace - Jamilatu Sheriff is reunited with her mother Maryatu after two years absence. Credit: Sayoh Kamara/BBC)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Assignment

Sierra Leone: The price of going home

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service News Internet

About BBC World Service