A Tale of Two Laundries

Life on the ship is very very different from life in Freetown for local people, and those differences can be extreme!

A good example is the comparison of the laundry facilities provided on the ship for crew use and the facilities provided for the HOPE Centre patients as they either wait for surgery or stay between appointments.

The Crew laundry onboard is the most amazing facility: 16 top of the range Miele washing machines with 16 equivalent tumble dryers on top. You simply book them in hour long slots and even the washing tablets are provided free. The room is also equipped with irons, large sinks for washing shoes, folding tables and laundry baskets.

Compare that to the laundry provided for the patients at the HOPE centre - a row of four outdoor sinks and a washing line:

Now, it is important to point out here, that this is what is provided because that is what the locals expect and are used to. In fact you see many people washing their clothes in the rivers as water is scarce in the city (only provided three days a week).

The point is that our experiences of every day activities are hugely different!