Youth Empowerment & Employability .

The Gambia remains on the list of least developed countries. It has a small economy that relies primarily on agriculture, tourism, and remittances. While about 60% of the population is under the age of 25 years, there are high levels of youth unemployment and underemployment. Poverty and lack of employment opportunities are among the major reasons driving an increasing number of people vulnerable.

Sally Bah, a 26 year old young lady from Jarra Soma always wished to further her education so as to realize her dreams of becoming a graduate. She lived in Jarra Soma with her mum, dad and siblings before moving to “Jeshwang”, a metropolitan town in The Gambia because of the opportunity provided by the Social and Economic Resilience of Vulnerable Youths Project (SERVY), which is funded by SOS Children’ Villages Finland to Study at the Gambia Technical Training Institute -GTTI. Like Sally Bah and other young people, having the opportunity to go back to school was a dream come through. But along the way her journey towards her dream had hitches.

At the age of fourteen, Sally started to experience  severe body pain and this caused her health to deteriorate.  She was then in the 7^th grade, a tougher class, but due to her health she could not perform quite well as her other mates and had to leave school for some period.

“When I was in grade seven (7) I started to feel pain in my body but did not know what the problem was so I had to stay out of school. “After a while I went back to school and sadly for me in my twelfth grade, the pain got worst and I had to drop out of school. Despite my health condition I struggled to go back to school to complete my secondary education but my wish to sit to the WASSCE Examination was impossible. During that period my parents had to arrange for a motorcyclist to take me to school because to walk even a short distance was a problem. If I had to walk, it will take me four hours or more to reach my school so I decided to stay home’’.

“In 2018, my parents took me to MRC (Medical Research Council) at Fajara for medical examination. On that day after seeing the doctor, we were told that I had backbone coverture and it cannot be cured in The Gambia unless I travel abroad”. Coming from a poor family my hopes/chances for treatment was very minimal this thought made my life very difficult growing up as a child”.

Sally’s parents never gave up on her. In 2018, they were informed that a group of medical doctors from India were in The Gambia to offer treatments like Sally’s condition. “My parents took this opportunity and we visited the doctors. When we met them, after examining my back. They told us that I can be cured but it has to be done in India but we had no money to cover for the travel expenses.

Despite that, Sally’s father took another step to support her daughter. “Later that year, my father enrolled me at a skills training centre called Girls Guide Skills Training Center. During that time I managed to go to school with the support of motorbike as I previously mentioned”.

Sally later met a good old friend by the name Lamin Saidy. “Lamin is a good friend of mine; he knows my family and my situation. Sometimes when Lamin visits me, he finds me sitting alone isolated and he normally ask me what was wrong with me. I explained my situation to him and that was the time he mentioned about SOS  Children Villages The Gambia project for young dropped outs”.

“After discussing and mentorship with the Project’s Social Worker for the Jarra Districts, Marie Mosan Sarr , I decided to opt for Information Technology (IT) Course after the Project Coached me for 6 months. Before embarking on IT, I initially wanted to become a nurse, but I did not meet the eligibility  requirements.’’

With the support of the Social and Economic Resilience of Vulnerable Youths Project (SERVY), which is funded by SOS Children’ Villages Finland, In 2021 Sally was enrolled at the Gambia Technical Training Institute – GTTI to pursue a course in Information Technology.

“I decided to do A Course at GTTI in Software Application because I decided that I will like to be a Software Developer by doing the IT course, I will gain a lot of knowledge and experience to achieve my dream”.

In 2021, Sally moved to “Jeshwang”, through the project, where she stayed with her aunt. “My aunt is very understanding and helpful. On a normal day, I wake up, eat and go to school. I do not do any domestic work due to my condition. My aunt always tell me not to worry that my share of work will be done by my cousins and his wife. I always feel bad that I could help but had I not been in this condition I will have loved to help but thanks to my aunt and her family for the support and understanding”.

“One thing I know is that without computer literacy in this generation, you are nowhere. When you study Information Technology particularly Software Development, you can be self-employed and even employ others and that is what I want to do. In The Gambia, young people face many problems especially it is hard to get job or be employed. Some also find it difficult to have financial support for their education. I hope the Government of The Gambia support young people to further their education and create platforms for young people to achieve their dreams”. 

Since enrolled in the SOS Social and Economic Resilience of Vulnerable Youths Project (SERVY), Sally has achieved a lot. “I have gained a lot so far which has impacted a lot in my life. So far I have learnt computer fundamental, communication skills, internet and web and software application (MS Excel and Word) to name a few. Now I am able to use a computer, browse the internet and web thanks to the project”.

‘The opportunity that SOS Project has given to me has really turned my life around; seeing myself doing something with my life makes me feel happy and proud.’’

“My dream is to be Software Developer where I will earn money and pay for my medical treatment”.