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Louisa Madinatu Samuels (Bangura) was born and raised in Freetown. She attended the St Anne's Primary School, and then did her secondary education at the St. Joseph's Secondary School, Class of 1990. She has a beautiful son with her childhood sweetheart. She now lives in London and works as a civil servant in Her Majesty Customs and Excise as a VAT officer. [Nov. 2007]  

Edward Sandi was born in Freetown. His dad was Albert Daniel Sandi from Bumpeh Chiefdom in Bo District. Edward attended St Edward's Primary School in Freetown from 1975 to 1981 and then Services Secondary School from 1981 to 1986. He was a member of the Sierra Leone Boys’ School Association and a pastor at the St. George’s Church, Juba, from 1992 to 1996. He was a scout leader for Services Primary and Services Secondary School and also Emmett Primary School, Lumley. He came to the United States in 1996 and in 1997 he joined the United States Navy. He holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice Management from Columbus University, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. and BA in Business Administration with concentration in Health Care Management from American Intercontinental University (AIU) Online, Currently he is working on his Masters Degree (MBA) in Health Care Management from AIU. He has two beautiful daughters, and still serving in the United States Navy. [Nov. 2007]

Lamin Gbanabom Sankoh, from Makundu and Mile 91, attended Peninsula Secondary School at Waterloo, St. Augustine Teachers College in Makeni, Wolverhampton University and Leeds University. He is a former Member of Parliament for Tonkolili West One. In 1999 he gained an RMN and Diploma in Mental Health Nursing from Thames Valley University. He holds a Masters Degree and Diploma in Social Work from Reading University and now works as social worker at Bracknell Forest Social Services and Housing. His is currently working for Wokingham Social Services as a social worker and Care Manager. He lives in Reading, U.K. with his family [Nov. 2007]

Osman Alimamy Sankoh (Mallam O.) was born at Warima, Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District - 58 miles from Freetown on the Masiaka-Mile 91 highway. Mallam O. attended Tomlinson High School, Songo, near Waterloo. He holds a B.Sc.Ed. (Division One Distinction in Mathematics) from Njala University College where he was SU President in 1985/86. He did further studies at the University of Dortmund in Germany where he obtained the following degrees in Applied Statistics - B.Sc. Hons., M.Sc. and D.Sc. He was a scientist (biostatistician/epidemiologist) in the Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health at the University of Heidelberg, Germany (1999 to 2002). Since July 2002, he works with the INDEPTH Network in Accra, Ghana. He became Executive Director of INDEPTH in October 2007. Mallam O. taught in Tomlinson High School (1978 to 1980), Yengema Secondary School (1981 to 1983), and University Secondary School, Njala (1988 to 1989). He was a Research/Teaching Assistant at NUC (1987 to 1989). Osman is founding editor-in-chief of the international bilingual (French/English) African Journal of Environmental Assessment and Management and co-founder of Africa Positive, a magazine in Germany that portrays the positive sides of Africa. He has authored several books including "Hybrid Eyes - An African in Europe" and "Beautiful Colours". Mallam O. is founder and publisher of the Sierra Leonean Writers Series. [Nov. 2007]

Dr. Khalil Sawaneh was born in the Wilberforce Barracks, Freetown, while his father was serving in the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. His parents originated from Alikalia, Nieni Chiefdom, Koinadugu District. He later transferred with his parents to Tankoro, Kono District when his father discharged from the Army. He attended the Koidu Islamic Primary School and Saint Francis Secondary School School Makeni. He was the Secretary General of the Geo-Economic Society of Saint Francis Secondary School, in the Academic Year 74/75.He later left for further studies to Milan, Italy, where he attended the State Technical Commercial College of Milan, and obtained a Diploma in Accounting and Commerce. Thereafter, he did a Masters degree course in International Politics at the State University of Milan and a Doctorate in African Studies from the State University of Siena. From 1995 to 1998 he was Secretary-General of the Sierra Leone Community of Lombardy from 1995 to 1998. He resigned to return to Sierra Leone, accompanied by social workers from the Italian NGO Emergency Life Support for Civilian War Victims, to conduct a feasibility study for constructing a hospital at Masiaka to treat civilian war victims. Due to the frequent hostilities between RUF and government forces at Masiaka, however, the idea was postponed for the time being. On the advice of the Sierra Leone government, a modern clinic was constructed at Goderich to treat civilian war victims. In 2000, he was sent by the group Emergency to Sierra Leone to get the Organization registered with the Sierra Leone government as an international NGO. While in Sierra Leone, he married his lifelong fiancee, Manteneh Mansaray. They have a son, Khalifa, who was born in 2002. They now live and work in Lindenwold, New Jersey, U.S.A. [Nov. 2007]

Gary Schulze was a member of the first contingent of Peace Corps Volunteers to go to Sierra Leone in 1961. He taught history at the Albert Academy and helped the late Dr. M.C.F. Easmon establish the Sierra Leone National Museum. The statue of Bai Bureh he commissioned to be made in 1962 appears on the Le 1,000 note. He also made the model of the DeRuiter stone which is still on display in the museum. Under the auspices of the State Department and the African-American Institute, Mr. Schulze served as an International Observer at the 1996 Sierra Leone Presidential and Legislative Elections. He is an executive with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City, New York and serves on the New York City Police Commissioner's Advisory Board. He is on the Board of Advisors and Elders of the United African Congress and a member of the Citizen's Commission on the African Union. An avid collector of traditional African art, some of his collection of Sierra Leone art was exhibited in New Haven, Connecticut at the Amistad 2000 Celebration. The entire collection will be on display at the Queensborough College Art Museum in the fall of 2003. [Dec. 2002]

Susan L. Schwartz was a Peace Corps Volunteer (Agriculture) in Juma and Nitti, Moyamba District, from 1981 to 1983. She subsequently taught English and trained English teachers in China and Indonesia. Susan currently lives in Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.A., and teaches English as a Second Language at a public school; she also teaches in-service courses in her school district. In July-August 2007, she participated in a Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad program to India. [Nov. 2007]

Malcolm Seisay was born in Bonthe Sherbro. He is an alumnus of Albert Academy (class of 66) and Hampton University, with further studies at George Washington University. He is a U.S. Army veteran and currently resides in American Canyon, Northern California.  [Nov. 2007]

Dr. Mohamed B.D. Seisay hails from Bonthe Town and attended the Bo Government Secondary School in Bo and Fourah Bay College in Freetown. He has Msc and PhD degrees in fish population ecology from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. His main professional interest is in evaluation of fish populations and their forecasting methodologies. He is the Head of Fisheries Statistics and Research Unit in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Freetown but currently on a special assignment as National Counterpart Coordinator for an European Union fisheries Project “Institutional Support for Fisheries Management” in Sierra Leone. [Nov. 2007]

Almamy Razak Seray-Wurie was born to Baba Muhammadu Alieu of Foulah Town and Neneh Tenneh Goba Bengeh of Moyamba. He trained to teach at Milton Margai Teachers College (SL)and Bronx Community College (NY). Currently, a Lead Teacher at Bright Horizon at Presbyterian Hospital and studying at City College of New York. Living between New York and Banjul (The Gambia). [Nov. 2007]

Muctarr Sesay was born in Freetown, and attended Albert Academy. He is a biochemist (Ph.D) and currently involved in drug discovery and development for a biopharmaceutical company in the U.S.A. He resides in Florida, U.S.A.  [Nov. 2007]

Susan Shepler was a Peace Corps Volunteer at Gbendembu Secondary School from 1987 to 1989. She completed a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley on the reintegration of former child soldiers in Sierra Leone. She is an Assistant Professor at American University in the School of International Service, where she teaches courses on Conflict in Africa and on Youth and Conflict. She is married to Wusu Kargbo of Rogbin, Sierra Leone. They live in Washington D.C. [Nov. 2007]

Dr. Mohamed Abdul Sheriff attended Bo Government Secondary School, Christ the King College, Fourah Bay College and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He taught at St. Joseph's in Freetown and at the Institute of Public Administration and Management, Tower Hill, Freetown. He currently lives in London, U.K., where he is Principal Lecturer at Middlesex University. [Nov. 2007]

Ousmann Sheriff, aka "Jallohmee,", was born in Rokullan, Bombali District, near Makeni. He attended B.D.E.C Primary School in Rokullan, The Bo Government Secondary School and St Francis Secondary School in Makeni before going to Njala University College, where he obtained a BSc degree in Agricultural General. He worked for the Port Loko Agricultural Development Project as an Agricultural Extension Officer before furthering his education in the U.K. He obtained an M.Sc degree in Agricultural Development from Wye College, University of London. He is currently based in London, U.K. He is a Ward Manager on Topaz ward at the Newham Centre for Mental Health - East London and The City Foundation Mental Health Trust. He is married to Ramata Jalloh, who attended Annie Walsh Memorial School in Freetown. They have four daughters, Adama, Mariama, Haja and Bintu. [Nov. 2007]

Jim and Betty Jo Smith were Peace Corps Volunteers in Makeni in 1982. They now live in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. [Nov. 2007]

Mohamed Sowe lived in Kabala and Freetown, and attended Kabala Secondary School, St. Edward's Secondary School and the Institute of Public Affairs and Management. He later received an MBA from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. He now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He currently works for Wachovia Bank as a Senior Underwriter for retail credit. He enjoys playing tennis and walking in the park. [Nov. 2007]

Rod Streeper was a Peace Corps Volunteer (Primary Health Care) in Freetown and Makeni during 1986. He now lives in North Carolina, U.S.A. [Jan. 2008]

Andy Squires was a participant in Crossroads Africa in 1983, working in the village of Mabuveh. He is currently a computer programmer in Washington, D.C. [Nov. 2007]

Gary Stewart, a.k.a. Sahr Tamba Gborie Mansaray. After graduating from Penn State University, Gary followed John F. Kennedy's challenge to "ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." Gary joined the Peace Corps and worked for four years at Sewafe Secondary School with Father Austin Healy as a math, physics and chemistry teacher. In Gary's spare time, he worked with Mandingo Chief Brima Mansaray and Paramount Chief Torto and the people of Harama-Kono Corner in Sewafe to build a cement water well. Gary also assisted two primary schools in building new latrines using funds donated by friends in the U.S.A. After returning to Pennsylvania in 1981, Gary worked for Bethesda Youth Services with troubled teenagers for two years. Then on to Edinboro University to complete a B.S. degree in Computer Science. Gary then worked for ten years in at NASA / Lewis Research Center (now GRC) in Cleveland in computer programming, mainframe system support, networking and Unix support. Gary has worked for the past eight years at Lubrizol Corporation in Cleveland as the computer server team leader and his team provides 24x7 support of 150 servers in Cleveland and support of 50+ servers at Lubrizol's global locations. Gary married Lauren Minnis of Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1984 and they have three growing boys aged 15, 13 and 9 who are active in wrestling, soccer, and Boy Scouts. Gary has worked for the past twelve years at Lubrizol Corporation in Cleveland as the enterprise storage team leader and his team provides 24x7 support for several petabytes (millions of gigabytes) for servers in the Cleveland corporate office. Gary married Lauren Minnis of Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1984 and they have three growing boys aged 20, 18 and 14 who are active in soccer, Boy Scouts and church activities. Gary’s two older sons are Eagle Scouts. [Jan. 2008]

David and Gale Swenson lived in Sierra Leone from 1972 to 1974. Both worked for Sierra Rutile and lived in Mobimbi. David was the Chief Chemist and Gale was the Secretary to the Managing Director. Currently, David and Gale live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. [Dec. 2007]

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Festus A. Tarawalie was head boy (senior prefect) of St. Francis Secondary School in Makeni during the 1985/86 academic year. He subsequently taught at the same school for two years. In 1990, he proceeded to Rome, Italy where he's currently doing research for a PhD in communication and rural development. His hobbies include travelling, rural development issues, and news. He is a member of the Geneva-based International Union of Catholic Journalists (UCIP). He holds a PhD in Communication for Development (Faculty of Sociology) from the Gregorian University in Rome. He is co-editor and co-producer of the Daily English Service for Africa of Vatican Radio. [Nov. 2007]

Sorie S. Tarawally Esq. was born in Freetown, 16 August 1950. He attended Albert Academy, in Freetown from 1964 to 1971; received a B.A. from Rutgers University (1975) and J.D. from the University of Mississippi (1985). He was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1986. He maintains offices at Catledge Tarawally & Associates and The Hinds County Attorney's Office, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A. His interests include politics, reading and "old age soccer." [Dec. 2007]

Matilda (George) Taylor-Young attended YWCA Vocational Institute (1966 to 1971). She taught Commerce and Religious Knowledge at the Sierra Leone Commercial Institute (1971-1972) and worked for Sierra Leone Airways/Airlines (1972 to 1987). She lived at Elk Street from birth until 1966 and then in the westend of Freetown until 1987. Her last address in Freetown was Marjay Town, Goderich. She is currently living in London, U.K. Her children include Princess Carolyn George, Desmond George and Roseanna George. Nieces/nephew Rachael Ola Niger, Angela Taylor-Harding, Cornelious Coker. Adopted Daughter: Cecilia Kargbo. [Nov. 2007]

Abdul O. B. Tejan-Cole attended the Fourah Bay College School, Prince of Wales Secondary School, and St. Edward's Secondary School. He graduated from Fourah Bay College in 1990 with an LL.B.(Hons.) degree, and in 1994 from University College in London with an LL.M. degree. He is the past President and Secretary-General of the Sierra Leone Bar Association. He lectured law at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, worked as a prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone and practiced law as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone. He currently works for the International Center for Transitional Justice in Cape Town, South Africa. [Oct. 2006]

V.J. Temple, MSc; Ph.D.; C.Biol; M.I.Biol., attended Prince of Wales Secondary School and, from 1971 to 1980, Moscow State University. He was an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone. The AFRC military coup took place one month after his arrival in Freetown to take up his appointment at the COMAHS USL, and one month after the coup he left to join his wife and children in Riga, Latvia, the name of his wife, Olga Kitty Temple. Prior to his arrival in Sierra Leone, he was an Associate Professor in Biochemistry in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, in Plateau State, Nigeria. He was a Docent in the department of Medical Biochemistry in the Latvian Medical Academy in Riga Latvia. He is currently Chairman of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) and Head of Discipline of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Division of BMS, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), Papua New Guinea (PNG). He is also the coordinator of the Micronutrient Research Group in the SMHS and Head of the Micronutrient Research Laboratory in the SMHS UPNG. He is looking for a job opportunity to go back home to Freetown Sierra Leone to contribute towards the development of his lovely country. He has completed several research projects and published several research papers in the area of micronutrient deficiency, {Iron, Iodine, Thiamine, Vitamin A, Vitamin C}. [Nov. 2007]

Francis N. Thomas Jr. attended Bo School (Government Secondary School, Bo) and Government Secondary School, Kenema. He resides in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and attended Northeastern University (Boston) for undergraduate and Bentley College (Boston) for graduate degrees. He currently works as Deputy Commissioner of Administration & Finance in City of Boston Commission on Affairs of the Elderly. He is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (past president of the Boston Chapter, and former Eastern Region vice president), chairman Board of Directors of Wanword Progressive Foundation, Inc., and member of the Mount Ida School of Business Visiting Advisory Council. [Nov. 2007]

Ivan A. S. Thomas is from Aberdeen, Freetown. He attended the WAM Collegiate School, Milton Margai Teachers College, Fourah Bay College and the University of leicester in the UK. He graduate with the HTC secondary in 1989, BA political science and philosophy in 2000, MA Mass communication in 2004 and PhD Mass Communication 2007. He formerly worked at Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service as a Senior Producer and Ag. Production Manager, and was also Public Relations Officer for the Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone. He is now contract teacher at the University of Leicester. [Dec. 2007]

Thane Thompson was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kabala and Njala from 1992 to 1994, working on agriculture projects dealing with work-oxen and animal production. Upon returning to the US, he worked for a community environmental organization from 1994 to 1996 before pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management at Indiana University. After three years with the Department of Labor in Washington, DC, he and his wife moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. He currently works as a Project Manager for the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General. Thane and his wife Tamilyn have one daughter, Cora. [Jun. 2007]

Rachael Patricia Thorpe currently lives in western Freetown. She attended the Central Nursery School, Tower Hill Municipal School and the Methodist Girls' High School. She works for Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Limited, and has many professional certificates in Secretarial Studies. [Nov. 2007]

Teddy Abioseh Thorpe attended Methodist Boys’ High School (1961 to 1965) and Fourah Bay College (1967 to 1971) He taught Geography at the Annie Walsh and St. Helena Secondary Schools (1972 to 1975). He worked for Sierra Leone Airways (1975 to 1981), the Commonwealth Secretariat in London (1981 to 1989). He moved to Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (1989 to 1994). He is currently in Atlanta, Georgia where he has worked as a residential real estate broker since 2004. [Nov. 2007]

Nat Treadway was a Peace Corps Volunteer based in Mano, Dasse Chiefdom, Moyamba District from 1975 through 1977 and in Kenema in 1978. He provided assistance to farmers as an agricultural extension agent and irrigation engineer in paddy rice cultivation. He participated in village-based Peace Corps training programs in Bumban (1975), Makali (1976), Kpuwabu (1977), Mabonto (1978), and Mbundorbu (1980). Nat lives in Houston, Texas and is a partner with the Distributed Energy Financial Group, LLC, a specialized energy consulting firm. [Nov. 2007]

Rev. James J. Tully worked as a Xaverian missionary priest at Kamalu and Port Loko from 1979 to 1985. In 1994 he returned to Sierra Leone and worked at Magburaka until forced to leave by the rebels in 1998. He was then assigned to the Kaliah Refugee Camp in Forecariah, Guinea, where he worked from 1999 to 2001. He is currently in Vicenza, Italy. [Nov 2007]

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Karen Ulberg was a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1972 to 1974 at St. Andrew's Secondary School in Bo. She is now in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. [Nov. 2007]

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Chuck and Barbara Vaughn lived and worked in the town of Rogbin, Bombali District, Northern Province. They currently live in Ukiah, California, U.S.A. Chuck works for the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of California, and Barbara is a first grade teacher. They have two daughters, Darcy and Sara. [Nov. 2007]

Jaap W. J. Verhey van Wijk was Regional Manager of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines until the 1997 coup. He now resides in the Philippines. [Nov. 2007]

Jeyapalan Vethanayagam, alias "JP", (originally from Sri Lanka) attended the Prince of Wales Secondary School in Freetown from 1972 to 1974, to do Advanced Level, before leaving for the U.K. to do a degree in Applied Mathematics. His father was a teacher at Collegiate Secondary School and his mother a teacher at Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) and International School from 1972 to 1982. At school, he was a prefect and also captained the school cricket team which won the 1973 Inter Secondary School Cricket Tournament. He now lives in New South Wales, Australia with his wife and two children, and works in an insurance company as a Compliance Associate. [Dec. 2007]

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Verena Wallace lived in Bo in the early 1960s and then attended the International School in Freetown from 1968 to 1971. Her parents were missionaries and her father, Rev S Leslie Wallace MBE, CR was President of the Methodist Church Sierra Leone. Verena's parents retired to Northern Ireland and she lives and works nearby. She is a senior midwifery officer in NI. [Nov. 2007]

DarEll T. Weist lived in Bo from 1973 to 1976, where he taught theological education for the United Methodist Church. He currently lives in Pasadena, California, U.S.A. [Nov. 2007]

Syerramia Willoughby is from Freetown. She is currently working as a journalist in London, England, U.K. [Nov. 2007]

Alf Wilson worked from August 1959 to November 1960 as an Assistant Signals Officer at Lungi Airport. He is now retired and living in Cyprus. [Nov. 2007]

Paul A. Wilson taught at Yonibana Secondary School, Tonkolili District, from September 1971 to June 1974 as a CUSO volunteer. On his return to Canada, he took a Masters Degree in International Development at the University of Toronto. Following that, he worked for fifteen years in the field of Community Development for the Toronto Board of Education. In 1988/89 he went to work in Cross River State, Nigeria, to do community development work. In 1992 he went back to university to get his teaching certificate, and now teaches public elementary school students. He is currently teaching a primary/junior class at Leslieville School in Toronto. Paul became active working with the local Rwandan community in 1998 and travelled to Rwanda in the summer of 1999. Most recently he had the joy of marrying his partner, Dada Gasirabo, at a traditional Rwandan ceremony, in Kigali, in the summer of 2006. [Nov. 2007]

Dr. Dennis Wilson-Cole was born in Kissy, Freetown. He is an alumnus of Kissy Primary School, Prince of Wales School, the Institute of Public Administration and Management, Emile Woolf College of Accountancy, Middlesex and Kingston Universities. He is a chartered accountant and a management consultant. He lectures graduate students part-time and his research interests include Enterprise Governance, UK Company Law, Corporate Social Reporting, Emerging Economies and Financial Management in SMEs. His immediate past employers and clients have included the world-renowned London School of Economics (LSE), Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT), the Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD), Investors in People UK, Tomorrow's Company, Diabetes UK, The Insurance Charities and the London Boroughs of Newham and Croydon. He is a non-executive director, trustee, honorary treasurer and Corporate Governance adviser to many SMEs and third sector organisations in London, the home counties and the Midlands. He is married to Marilyn Sylvia (a British child development specialist with Caribbean ancestry) and they have a daughter, Chantelle Adeyemi Denise. They are Seventh-Day Adventists living in London, England. [Nov. 2007]

Jon Wright was born in Port Loko, and grew up in Freetown, where he attended St. Edward's Primary and Secondary School. He came to the U.S. in 1978, and lived in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He now resides in Santa Clara, California (Silicon Valley) where he is a Senior Systems Engineer with Intel Corporation. [Nov. 2007]

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Edison Nyambeche Yongai was born in Nemesedu, Kamaa Chiefdom, Kono District. He attended the Tombodu Primary School and the Koidu and Yengema Secondary Schools. He did his Sixth Form studies at Magburaka Boys School. He completed a Bachelors degree at Fourah Bay College and later did a Masters in Journalism at the University of Wollongong in Australia. He published a novel and two children's books with Macmillan Publishers, London. He was a journalist and teacher in Sierra Leone until he left in 1999 for Conakry, Guinea. He now resides in Sydney, Australia, with his family. He works as editor of Aus-Africa, a Sierra Leonean (African) newspaper published in Sydney; manager of the Sierra Leone community radio, Sydney, and community service (resettlement) worker. He has just published a novel The War After The War (Tate Publishing, USA). [Nov. 2007]

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Lloyd Ziegler was a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1969 to 1972, teach math and science at Holy Trinity Secondary School in Kenema. He taught high school math for many years in the United States. He is now a beekeeper in Oklahoma. [Nov. 2007]