Rural women wear many hats. Sometimes they are homemakers, sometimes market gardeners, sometimes farmers and livestock breeders. They shoulder a colossal and often invisible workload. Their days are a grueling marathon, caught as they are between essential domestic chores and income-generating activities.

In Medina Salam, a small village in the commune of Diendé (Sedhiou department), women are up at dawn, managing the household by fetching water and firewood to prepare meals, taking care of the children who go to school, and maintaining the house. These tasks, essential to the family's well-being, are repetitive and physically demanding, leaving little respite.

To meet their needs and ensure financial independence, they dedicate themselves to market gardening. The hours spent under the sun plowing, sowing, weeding, harvesting, and sometimes processing the produce are arduous. This agricultural work is crucial for obtaining the money needed for schooling, healthcare, and small household expenses.

This double burden limits their access to education, leisure, and personal development opportunities. Recognizing this mental and physical strain and providing support through appropriate infrastructure and technology are essential to easing the daily lives of these tireless workers. They are true heroes of resilience.

Economic activities are often located near the houses or a few kilometers away, requiring back-and-forth trips under the scorching sun. At home, the small livestock and poultry wait. They must be fed, watered, and penned. Long and difficult days that, unfortunately, still have many more to come.