Community Surveys
One of the keystones of our project is the integration of food and water security into the overall design. For individuals to thrive and actively contribute to society, they must have reliable access to housing, food, and water for drinking, washing, and agricultural use. The design of this project will progress in phases. During this initial phase, we will focus on researching and developing strategies for establishing food-growing areas. However, determining the precise locations or how these spaces will be utilized by the community requires further investigation into the community’s needs and preferences. Food security can be achieved through various methods, and we will take the time to assess the benefits of each. Potential locations for food gardens include public spaces, private outdoor areas of individual units, adjacent land, or a combination of these. The final decision will be made later in the process, with community input playing a vital role.
To begin addressing food security, we will identify the primary systems and provide recommendations for their specifications. Soil testing will be conducted, and if deemed safe, fruit and nut trees will be planted. The land designated for development is currently a hillside forest with hardwood trees, situated within the city limits and near the College. We will make a dedicated effort to preserve the natural character of this hillside as part of the community’s identity.
Fatmata Koroma resides in the King Jimmy Community with her husband, a barber, their children, and her retired mother-in-law. She runs a small business while her children attend school. The family of five shares a single-room apartment, which is becoming increasingly cramped as the children grow older. They cook on their veranda or sometimes inside their room and purchase groceries at Dove Court Market. Cooking and certain domestic activities, such as sharing pots, are communal practices with their neighbors.
The family sources water from a public well and tap, paying per bucket. They use a public toilet, which also requires payment, but often prefer using a black bucket at home to avoid the ongoing expense. For bathing, Fatmata prefers washing at the back of the house. Laundry is done either at the well or at home, depending on the weather, and they dry their clothes on the veranda.
Fatmata dreams of having a larger home with three bedrooms—one for herself and her husband, one for her girls, and a separate room for her son, who desires more privacy. She values outdoor space for gardening and socializing, recalling her past experience with gardening in the village. Despite their financial struggles, she is willing to build or extend her home using local materials to reduce costs.
With a household income below LE 500, her biggest concern is the lack of private toilet facilities, which she finds costly and inconvenient. She believes a shared community space would be beneficial for recreation, children’s play, and social events.
Mohamed Bayoh lives in the King Jimmy Community with his wife and their three daughters, aged 5 to 12. At 33 years old, Mohamed is the primary provider, while his 22-year-old wife runs a small home-based food business. Their children attend school, with the girls taking transportation while the parents walk to their nearby business. The family resides in a single-room apartment, which they find increasingly cramped. They cook in a shared community kitchen and eat either in their room or on the veranda. They source water from a public well but buy pure water for drinking. Toilet facilities are public and require payment, but to avoid frequent expenses, the family often uses a bucket toilet at home. Laundry is done at the well during the dry season and at home when it rains, with clothes dried indoors. Mohamed wishes for a larger home with three bedrooms, a living room, and a private toilet. He believes having an outdoor space would be highly beneficial, as he has a background in agriculture and would like to grow produce. He also supports creating a community space for children’s play, sports, and social events.
Despite the area's poor security, Mohamed continues to invest in his home. He upgraded its original timber structure to concrete block himself, demonstrating his commitment to improving their living conditions. He is willing to build or extend his house using local materials to save costs. With a monthly household income of approximately LE 1,000, the family faces financial constraints but remains resourceful. Waste disposal is managed through the Freetown City Council, though small amounts are sometimes discarded in nearby drainage. Mohamed values shared community spaces, especially for laundry, recreation, and playgrounds. If he had extra space, he would convert it into a shop for additional income. His most pressing need is for a private toilet facility, which would reduce the burden of public toilet fees and offer greater convenience and hygiene for his family.
Ibriam Jimmy Bangura, a single father, lives in the King Jimmy Community with his son and two younger brothers, aged 28 and 25. The household consists entirely of males, with Ibriam and his brothers working together in business while his son attends school. The family spends most of their time outdoors, often socializing and eating in the market area where they sell their goods. Their living conditions are modest, with all four men sharing a single room made of zinc panels. Ibriam desires a larger space to provide privacy for his brothers and a separate room for himself and his son. He envisions a home with three bedrooms and a living room for comfort and privacy. The family sources water from a public well or collects rainwater, while drinking water is purchased. They use a shared public toilet and bath, both of which require payment per use. To avoid frequent expenses and unsanitary conditions, they sometimes shower at home. Laundry is done either at home or near the well, with clothes dried at home.
Ibriam strongly values security and is concerned about the area’s vulnerability. He aspires to own his home and believes an outdoor space would be beneficial, particularly if he marries, as his future wife might want to start a garden. He also supports the creation of a community space for children’s play, sports, and events. With a monthly income of approximately LE 1,000, the family manages their expenses by disposing of waste in the nearby gutter running to the sea. Despite their limited means, Ibriam is open to building or extending his home using local materials to reduce costs.
His most pressing need is for a proper toilet facility, which would improve hygiene and reduce the financial burden of using the public toilet. If he had extra space, he would rent it out for additional income.
Jannet Bangura, a 36-year-old businesswoman, lives in the King Jimmy Community with her husband (48) and their one-year-old baby boy. The couple runs their business from home, with each managing a separate shop in the community. Since their baby is still young, Jannet often stays at her husband's shop to care for him. The family spends most of their time indoors due to their home-based business, limiting their social interactions with neighbors. Their household conditions are modest. They currently sleep in their shops due to limited space in their zinc-paneled home. Jannet desires a larger living area to separate their residence from their business. She envisions a two-bedroom, self-contained home—one room for herself and her husband and another for their son. She also requires storage space for her wholesale items.The family relies on a public well and rainwater for their water supply. However, Jannet avoids using the community’s shared public toilet and bath due to poor hygiene. Instead, they use a bucket toilet at home, which they empty into the public facility.
They also bathe outdoors near their home. Laundry is done and dried outside their residence. Jannet is concerned about the lack of privacy and would benefit from more secure, dedicated living quarters. She believes an outdoor space would be useful, especially since she enjoys gardening. She also supports the idea of a shared community space for children’s play and events, despite her and her husband’s limited social interactions. The family earns around LE 2,000 monthly, which they consider enough for their basic needs. Waste disposal is managed by gathering trash for city council collection. Jannet is open to building or extending her home using local materials to save on costs. Her most pressing need is for a private toilet facility, which would improve hygiene and convenience. If she had extra space, she would convert it into a rental store to generate additional income.
Osman Mansaray, a tailor in the Tree Planting Community, lives with his wife, their four children, and his siblings’ families—14 people in total. He is the primary provider and pays for four rooms in their compound. His wife is a businesswoman, while his siblings work as laborers. The children attend school. The family shares a kitchen Osman built, using a well and rainwater for their supply. They share a general toilet and bathing room with the compound, which they help maintain. Laundry and drying are done outside. Osman dreams of moving his family into a larger, unified home with seven to eight rooms. He also wants more storage space for kitchen utensils. Most family members use transportation to reach work or school, while some walk. They have electricity, and he says security is improving.
Osman socializes with neighbors at the court ward and would benefit from his own outdoor space. He supports having a shared community area for children’s play, sports, and events. His home is made of concrete blocks, but he is open to other materials if properly built. Waste is disposed of in a shared community area. The biggest need for Osman’s family is better toilet facilities. With a monthly income of around LE 2,000, he is willing to build or extend his own home to save on costs. If he had extra space, he would create a tailoring shop. He prioritizes function over aesthetics.
Adama Kamara, 26, lives in the King Jimmy Community with her husband, three children (7, 10, and 12 years old), and her mother-in-law. She and her husband run small businesses—she sells thrifted clothes, while he owns a barbershop. The children attend a nearby school, and her mother-in-law, a retiree, lives in a rented room. The family cooks and eats on their veranda and shares cooking utensils with neighbors. They buy groceries from Dove Court Market. Water is sourced from a public well or a paid tap. They use a public toilet and bathing area, which they find inconvenient and unsafe, so they often use buckets at night. Laundry is done by the well or at home during the rainy season, and clothes are dried on the veranda. Adama wants a larger home with three rooms and a living space, giving her 12-year-old son his own room. She also needs storage space for her thrift business stock. The family socializes with neighbors while cooking outside. Adama would love her own outdoor space, protected from the sun and rain, and is interested in gardening. She supports the idea of a shared community space for children’s play, sports, and events.
Her home is made of mud brick, and she is open to sustainable building materials. Waste is collected by local workers.
Adama’s main concerns are the lack of private sleeping space and the inconvenience of the public toilet. With a monthly income of around LE 500, she is willing to build or extend her own house to reduce ownership costs. If she had extra space, she would offer it to a family member in need.
Henry Mansaray, a 33-year-old single parent, lives in the King Jimmy Community with his two children, Isaac (13) and Satu (7). He works as a drink vendor, while his children attend school. They use taxis to get to school in the morning but walk home with friends afterward. The family does not prepare their own meals; instead, they buy food from neighbors or street stalls. Henry fetches water from the community well at Ajehkunle. They use a public toilet for bathing and excretion, but his children often use a black rubber bucket at home for safety reasons. Laundry is done at Ajehkunle. Henry and his children share a small zinc-walled house. He wishes for a larger home with two rooms—one for his children and the other for himself—to give them more privacy as they grow. He also needs storage space for the drinks he sells, which he currently lacks.
The family socializes with neighbors outside at communal steps, where they also watch movies or football matches. Henry believes a personal outdoor space would be beneficial, especially with protection from the sun or rain. While he doesn’t have time for gardening, he supports the idea of a shared community space for children’s play and events. His main concerns are the lack of security in the area and the absence of a private toilet. Waste is often disposed of in the sea, which he acknowledges as a common practice in the community.
With a monthly income of below LE 800, Henry is eager to own his home and is 100% willing to build or extend it to save on costs. If he had extra space, he would use it to host visitors. He has no preference for his home looking different from his neighbors’ as long as it meets his family’s needs.
Isatu Kamara, a 40-year-old trader, lives in the King Jimmy community with her daughter (Yayei, 25), her elder brother (Abdul, 60), her two grandsons (Joseph, 3, and Momoh, a baby), and her tenant (Kadie, 30), whom she considers part of her family. Abdul, a civil servant, is the primary provider, while Isatu and her daughter sell food along the street. The family shares a small living space made of zinc and concrete, with five people sleeping on the property. Isatu prefers larger sleeping spaces, aiming for four rooms—one for herself and her grandsons, one for her daughter, one for Abdul, and one for Kadie. She also needs a storage space for her cooking utensils, which she uses for her street food business. Isatu prepares and eats food on her veranda and buys groceries from the King Jimmy Market. She uses the community well for water. Bathing is done with large buckets early in the morning or at night, and excretion is handled using small black rubber containers. Laundry is done on the veranda. She spends most of her time outdoors and socializes with neighbors on weekends, typically sitting on her veranda.
Her primary security concern is the prevalence of theft in the area. She desires home ownership and prefers modern building materials like concrete or zinc, considering them more civilized and durable than local materials like mud brick, timber, or bamboo. Waste is disposed of by emptying it into the sea, which is common practice in the area. The most pressing needs in her current living situation are a toilet and kitchen. Isatu’s household earns below LE 800 per month, and she has no formal education. She dreams of owning a food stall at the nearby King Jimmy market, making it easier to work without needing to bring her grandson along. If she had empty space in her home, she would rent it out to people without housing. Unlike many of her neighbors, Isatu wants her home to look different, reflecting her desire for individuality.
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