Born into a Moslem family, Ivan never embraced the religion. 

He soon developed passion for Christianity and asked to be baptized at Bethel Methodist Church Wilberforce, our family church. He later did his confirmation in the same. He served the church in his own way and was an active member. 

He was perhaps sometimes the only one who would wake up every Sunday morning to attend a service when others were still asleep, whether at Bethel or some other church.  

He had a passion for people, less privileged and poor. In the last almost 10 years, he would organize food and clothing distribution on his Birthday on 23 December every year instead of receiving gifts.  

From Collegiate, Ivan attended a Management School from which he graduated in Human Resource Management in January 2006.

The same year, he was recruited by Airtel in their Human Resource and Logistics Department where he worked until 2012. 

He started a new job with the European Union in Sierra Leone on 17 February 2014 until his untimely death on 24 October 2015.  

Ivan, also known by many as Mohamed, Sparko, Ivanovitch, etc, came to live with us at the age of 5, when Adeline (baby) entered our lives. Mohamed, as we call him, took up residence and never left. His parents were living next door in another compound, but he chose to integrate the Ursula Cole family. 

Like all little boys, he could not be pinned down. He was troublesome, funny, witty, smart! by the age of 8, Ivan could create a radio with scraps of metal and wires. I saw the potential in him and took him under my wings.

He was so conscious about his presentation that one Sunday when we gave him an ordinary shirt to wear, he refused. He said: "Ms Ursula, if ar nor wer suit, dem nor go gee me paper" meaning, if he did not wear a suit, he would not be given the program in church! We had to persuade him that it was just an ordinary Sunday, so he did not have to overdress. 

He was fearless, very adventurous, always interested in discovering new things. He did not like cooking, but enjoyed baking and therefore always looking forward doing it with me. 

When the rebel war reached Freetown, his father decided to send their family up the provinces where they could be safe. Mohamed refused to go, indicating that wherever Ms Betty(I) was, there he was going to stay. The mother took Adama and other children and went without him. He remained steadfast. 

Ivan Mohamed attended the Wilberforce primary school and then proceeded to the Collegiate Secondary School.