>Sierra Leone’s Return to Agriculture–in Photos, Videos and Graphics

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Sierra Leone is probably best known for its dangerous and often violent diamond mining. But according to journalism student Martin Ricard, the country and its youth are slowly turning back to agriculture. Ricard recently won a 2010 Award for Online Journalism for “A Seed Is Forever,” his multimedia project about the return to the rural in Sierra Leone.

From the site:

“During Sierra Leone’s long civil war, diamond mining was fuel for the violence and a lure to rural youth who turned their backs on rural agriculture.

“But since the war ended in 2002, young people have been encouraged to play a pivotal role in moving the country forward, especially when it comes to food prodution.

“They are taking a renewed interest in farming and for the first time in years see a future in the very thing that for so long had been neglected.”

Learn more about Heifer’s work in Sierra Leone and how you can help.

>10 Poorest Countries

>Here’s something to think about over the weekend: How many of the world’s 10 poorest countries do you suppose are in Africa? Hint: All of them, according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index, a new rubric for measuring poverty.

The list: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Central African Republic, Somalia, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ethiopia and—the poorest country—Niger. In fact, according to a piece at the Huffington Post (also includes a slideshow), 24 of the 25 poorest countries are in Africa.

Read more about Heifer International’s work in Sierra Leone and other African countries, or find out how you can help by funding a project.