In 2019, Sweet Salone completed its first structured impact assessment, formally documenting the programme's reach across six artisan groups in and around Freetown. The assessment captured production data, artisan profiles, and direct testimony from the craftspeople whose lives the programme was beginning to change.
367 items produced across 3 product categories, engaging 31 artisans throughout the year.
Artisans reported using their Sweet Salone income in the following ways — data collected through direct interviews during the 2019 assessment.
School fee payments for dependents or themselves
Ability to save part of their income
Demographic figures collected through direct interviews with the artisans in the 2019 assessment cycle.
Lettie Stuart Pottery is quite a unique place, not only in Sierra Leone but in all of West Africa, as it is one of very few places that is capable of making high fired pottery products. It was founded by the Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) named after Dr Lettie Stuart the founder of SLADEA. It was established to help adults and youth, who hadn´t received formal education, to acquire skills as potters.
Brama town is a small village located 30km south of Freetown, with just over 700 habitants. Basket weaving is one of the main activities in the village. The group of weavers is headed by the Chief of Brama town Samuel Walker Mansaray, who taught most of the others the art of basket weaving.
Hidden behind the Tourist Board of Sierra Leone facility off Lumley Beach is a small market called Lumley Beach Market, where you can find various goods and souvenirs made by both the sellers in the market and their brothers and sisters in their villages and sent to town. Through the past few years Aurora has worked with several of the artisans that are based in the market.
43 years old Fatmata is married with a daughter and a grandchild. As a trained potter she is thankful for the Sweet Salone project from Aurora, as it led to the LSP hiring her for a regular salary and in addition she has received various pottery trainings from teachers visiting through Aurora. Now she can take care of herself and family through the salary given to her.
34 years old Lamin Kamara is married with 5 kids, he has never gone to school but has learned the art of weaving and is very talented. He started his weaving career with just basic designs and didn´t know how to color the material. He sold little and it was hard for him to survive and take care of his family. Encountering Aurora was a great blessing for him as he has really improved his weaving skills, he has received various trainings by Aurora which has helped him to design new things and color the material. Orders made by Aurora for the Sweet Salone project has helped him a lot to take care of his family.
Mohamed Sesay is 31 years old and is one of the potters at the LSP center. He is grateful for the Sweet Salone project which has created a stable employment for him and has helped him acquire new skills. He has become the center lead designer and primary potter. He is very happy to be getting a monthly salary that takes care of him and his family.
23 years old Zainab Bangura is a single mum, with one baby boy. She dropped out of school after high school and decided to become a bamboo cane weaver. With the earning from the weaving she has been able to take care of her baby boy and she has been trying to save some money to be able to continue her own education. It wasn't easy to save money at first but with the orders from Aurora, she is finally able to save some money and looks forward to continue her education.
The Sweet Salone programme directly contributes to the following global development goals through its focus on artisan livelihoods, skills training, and community outcomes.
