In early June, Sofia Barnett, the winner of New York Times journalist Nick Kristof’s “Win-a-Trip,” traveled alongside Kristof to West Africa. The pair began their journey in Ghana and made their way to Freetown, Sierra Leone. While in transit, Sofia kept a journal to document her experiences and sights seen along the way. One of her many journal entries is shared here:
“Today (6/4) was my first full day reporting in West Africa. This morning, I visited Gadnet (Girls Advocacy Development Network) Adolescent, which is an organization supporting young girls in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I interviewed maybe a dozen girls about sexual and reproductive health, menstruation stigma, girl’s education and female genital mutilation. I was surprised by how willing everyone was to speak with me, especially about such sensitive topics. The girls really opened up to me, but mostly they were brave.
I connected with another 22-year old girl, in particular. Her name is Tity. She was ‘initiated’ when she was 12, and today she spends her time educating other girls about their rights and connecting them to resources/advocates.”
View photos from Sofia’s travels and time spent connecting with the community in Freetown.
Department of History
Date
June 26, 2025
Sofia Barnett '25 Returns from West Africa
1
of
5
2
of
5
3
of
5
4
of
5
5
of
5