Help Fatoumatta go to the University of The Gambia

To donate to help Fatoumatta go to UTG, click the "Donate" button below; you can name any amount you wish.  If you can donate monthly, just click "Make this monthly" THANKS!!

In Spring 2017, Fatoumatta wrote:
​My name is Fatoumatta Kinteh. I live in Brikama in The Gambia. I am attending the University of the Gambia and studying Development Studies as my major. My parents have been my main source and support for my education, but now in the tertiary education level the bills are expensive and they are no longer able to help me pay my bills. The University of the Gambia is about to start final end of semester exams in early June, and when my fees are not settled I would not be allowed to proceed with my education program, and to also register my courses and do my exams. Therefore, I would have to defer my courses until I am able to pay my fees, only then I will be accepted back in school.
 
I am pleading if Gambia Rising donors could please help me with to go ahead with my studies because I have made goals that I am planning to achieve and it will be really hard to achieve those goals if I do not complete my studies and also help myself, my country, and the world at large.

Deirdre Wholly writes:
      I met Fatoumatta at a week-long program in The Gambia for high-achieving female students.  The program, called Explore Your Country, aims to bring female students (from grade 9 up to those who recently graduated) from the provinces of the country to the capital.  The students spend a week learning about college and career preparatory skills such as interviewing, resume writing, and professionalism, spend a half-day shadowing female professionals, and visit many of the higher learning institutions located in the capital. 
     Fatoumatta was was friendly, articulate, serious, and made an effort to connect with many of those facilitating the program, including myself.  I chatted with her throughout the week about her home life, challenges she’s faced in trying to explain her goals to her family, her passion for school and education, and her various dreams for the future.
     The program was held in August of 2015, and we’ve stayed in touch since then as I have taken on the role of a mentor to her.  She has since graduated from grade 12 with excellent results, and enrolled at the University of the Gambia as a Development Studies major. Her family was able to support her for the first semester, but they have told her that they do not have the money to pay for this current semester. Student fees for the University of the Gambia are far beyond the reach of most Gambian families. If she does not receive support for this semester, she will be forced to defer her studies. For anyone, but especially for female students in The Gambia, there is a risk that if she defers, she may not continue despite her strong desire to.
    We therefore ask for the kind support of GambiaRising’s donors and others in contributing to Fatoumatta’s school fees for the University of the Gambia, so that this bright, high achieving young woman is able to continue her education and reach her full potential. 

She made it through year 1. 

   Thanks so much to those who donated to pay the overdue fees so that Fatoumatta could complete her first year at the University of The Gambia.  She's 1/4 of the way to achieving her goal.  And she needs us more than ever now, to pay for her second year.
    

And year 2 too.  Let's make sure she makes it all the way.