Youde Solange Kouisse is a 60 years old woman whom I met in Solo refugee camp in Grand Gedeh county, Liberia. She had seven grown-up children in Ivory Coast and they were living far away from her when the conflict had started more than two years ago. She had to flee the country by herself. In the camp, she met a couple who were from her own area. They had four biological children and were also foster parents to two children who got separated from the family. Suddenly the mother died. Then Solange decided to take the responsibilities of six children as a foster mother.
When I asked her about the decision, she very calmly replied, “Every child is a child. I felt very sorry when their mother passed away. I knew it was difficult for the father to look after the children, and so I decided to care for them. I do not depend on any organization. God will help me.” It was so nice to hear that, as the camp is full of logos of various organizations (“visibility” is an important issue for them while Solange is performing the responsibilities in a selfless way). She has lost touch with all her children in Ivory Coast when the mobile phone with their numbers got stolen a year ago, which makes her sad. But six children have got a new mother.
I was speechless, and looked at her with respect and amazement. It is extremely disappointing to witness all the conflicts, destructions and preventable human sufferings caused mostly by power hungry, ruthless, greedy people. But I am also privileged to encounter persons like Solangne; it is for them that the world is still a livable place! I feel proud to be a member of human race when I meet generous, sensitive, and sincere people like her.They have the capacity to touch others while facing serious challenges in own lives; their humanity help me maintain faith in our collective future.
(Two of Solagne’s children were not home when I had met her. The photograph shows seven children; four of them are her foster children, and three are from her neighborhood. I have taken her consent to share the photos.)
