A Long Way From Home  
By Annie Musa 

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the northeast, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of 71,740 km (27,699 sq mi) and has a population estimated at 6,296,803. The country has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. Before the war started in Sierra Leone, life was great and people were living and going about their lives happily. The Sierra Leone civil war began in 1991, initiated by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under Foday Sankoh. Tens of thousands died and over one third of the population were displaced because of the 9-year conflict. Neighboring countries became the host to significant numbers of refugees attempting to escape the Civil War. I and my family were among the lucky ones that were able to escape. The war was officially declared over on January 18th, 2002. A large number of children were used as child soldiers.

Coming to Canada was a defining moment for me because at that time, I knew that my life would change forever. When I came to Canada in 2003, I really felt like a free person. Free from hunger, free from the fear of being killed and having the opportunity to go back to school. Like every newcomer, I went through a lot of challenges. When I started school, it was very hard for me because I hadn’t been in school for 5 years. I couldn’t understand much of what the teachers were saying; to me everything was like a semantic noise. I felt as if school wasn’t meant for me. As time went by, I started making friends. From then on, things became a little easier. Canada is a land of dreams come true and I am very proud to be a Canadian Citizen.