Alieu Jallow

Story: Ebrima Ndow is a young, visually impaired man who was born blind in Ndoku Dawen, a small village in Central River North, about six kilometres from the main town of Wassu. For years, he earned his living by carrying heavy loads for people, work that was already grueling for the able-bodied, yet he pushed through daily despite his disability. He lived in a dilapidated thatch house, a stark symbol of the hardships he endured. Life had dealt him a difficult hand, and he had nearly lost all hope of a better future. I first crossed paths with Ebrima one day in Wassu while stopping to grab an energy drink from a nearby shop. That was when I noticed him loading a truck full of goods. I froze for a moment, wondering how a man born blind could be doing such demanding work. It struck me so deeply that I could not let the moment pass. Even though I was in Wassu on a different mission, I felt compelled to pause, use my journalism lens, and bring his story into the limelight.

Published in: October 17, 2025