Aminata (13) migrates to Freetown, seeking love and adventure. Instead, she’s exploited by a pimp, forming a family with girls like her. At 17, Aminata escapes the city and goes back to her grandmother. But she feels remorse for leaving her friends living the bad life behind and wants to do something about it. Back in the city, Aminata patrols the mean streets approaching her friends in the dark alleys but feels like there’s no escape from under the neon lights. They need a safe place to recover. There is a Surf School at Bureh Beach, run by her friend Kadiatu. Surfing in the ocean, they can feel free. Own their bodies again. Aminata rushes into the waves. The ocean welcomes the street kids. The healing begins.

Around 2,500 minors live day and night on the streets of Freetown. 47% of girls around the age of 18 have a child or are pregnant because of rape, prostitution, or misinformation. Thanks to Bayo Bayo Baby, young girls escape this life of abuse, take control over their bodies to heal and dream atop of a surfboard. In a country where infant mortality is 40%, the highest in the world, the surf school is the first step of our campaign to protect local childhood in coordination with Don Bosco Fambul, the local NGOs successfully helping children in distress. Last year, they helped 2,500 children with shelter, legal aid, therapy, family reunification and health support.