Tony Binns, recently retired Professor of Geography at Otago UniversityA 48 year relationship with one country, Sierra Leone, and one area within that country, Kayima, is pretty unusual, except for a native. That is what happened to Prof, Tony Binns. What began as a research project back in 1974 developed into so much more. In Sierra Leone in the 1960s and 1970s there was drive to mine more diamonds, to the detriment of local farming, it was thought. The young Tony Binns set out to find the facts. Farming wasn't neglected because the farmers sold their produce to the miners. A win- win. But the village, Kayima, where Prof Binns concentrated his efforts, was and is still poor.. (The poverty rate is way up there, about the 6th poorest country in the world). Subsistence farming is not a well paid occupation. They didn't realise they were poor, but just got on with life. 2 aid projects in particular, have improved life in the village. A nursery school for 200 children was the first project, the 2nd, with the help of Rotary and others, is to improve the health clinic. They are currently installing a water pump, and fixing the leaks in the ceiling. The bedding is next. By the way the nearest hospital in 4 hours away over rock, dust and sealed roads. Maternal and infant health is slowly improving. For his efforts in 2011 Prof Binns was made a chief. He is hoping to visit Kayima again later this year.
