(Lizzie Salerno writes:
My friend Isatou graduated from Armitage Senior Secondary School in JanJangBureh and was never able to continue onto higher education because of lack of finances. However, last year her husband, Makang Ceesay, who is the family's primary source of income, was able to fund her expenses for the first year in Gambia College. Then the college announced that it would begin charging tuition. This devastated Isatou and her family. Makang is now struggling to pay for both his family at home and Isatou’s schooling and he informed me last month that Isatou will have to drop out of school if she herself could not find the funds. Isatou is the only girl to finish 12th grade in her family and is a true leader when it comes to community work. Every time I held a program at Karantaba Upper Basic whether that be a gender equality program, tree planting, etc. Isatou would always attend to show support, help with anything that was needed, and enlighten herself on each topic. She wasn’t obligated to come like the rest of the students - after all she had already graduated. But it was her curiosity and hunger to learn that motivated her. When I met Isatou she was farming with her dad in the groundnut fields and this is exactly what she will go back to do if her education is not financed. Isatou has the determination and grit to achieve anything she sets her mind to. Please help me support Isatou so she can complete college and become a qualified teacher. No amount is too small, but remember, we want to support her for all her years in school, so if you can pledge a monthly donation of any amount, it will really help so much. (Just check the box "Make this a monthly donation".) It will take just a moment to help Isatou if you click below: |