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Our purpose is to help as many young Gambians have the opportunity to go to school as we can. What they achieve with this opportunity is up to them. Last month we wrote about Fatou Kineh Ndow (that post is copied below). What we did not know was that a few weeks later she would be making more news. The University of Iowa flew her to Amsterdam to speak at the annual Conference on Computational Science and Engineering held by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
Over the past 12 years, as our supporters have grown to several hundred, and as some of those have also increased their giving, while our Gambiann Coordinators have found more creative ways to make donated funds go further, we began to believe that we could make a real impact not only on our students' lives, but also on entire communities and perhaps the nation. But we never entertained the possibility that the body of human knowledge would be advanced by some of these students. Yet that is what is happening.
Meanwhile, back in The Gambia, U.S. Ambassador Sharon Cromer held several events in recognition of Black History Month. One was held at her home; another larger event was held at the Embassy. We were delighted to notice in the photos of the two events that one of the speakers at both events was another GambiaRising scholarship recipient: University of The Gambia law student Cherno Gaye (shown at right with the Ambassador and below speaking at the two events.
I have come to think of the work we are doing not as charity, but as seeking justice. For in a just world, every young person would have a chance for an education. Some would turn that chance into unimaginable impact. But every one would have so many more possibilities for shaping their life. From those studying to be better farmers under our Sperry Scholars program, or those in our growing teacher training programs, to those simply walking to school with their friends to learn more about the world, and so they have a little more time to grow up before getting married, this is important work. And no one but we are going to do it. If you haven't recently donated, please try to find a way to join us. $3 per month can change a young child's life. $20 per month can send a teacher candidate to Gambia College.
Mike McConnell
Managing Trustee
GambiaRising
www.gambiarising.org
1500 Park Ave., Apt. 503
Emeryville, CA 94608-3578
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In case you missed it or want to refresh your memory, here is what we wrote about Fatou Kineh last month:
Fatou Kineh Ndow's mother is a remarkable woman. When a tainted batch of medicine left her unable to walk in 3rd grade, she had to drop out of school. But she raised a family, and supported her daughter by selling phone credit from a stand at the Westfield traffic circle in Kanifing. The Disabled Persons Association has for a long time had several stands around the Westfield circle, and many of us have made a point of buying our phone credit from them. But I never imagined that the President of the Association had a daughter who would one day inspire us all.
Fatou Kineh had never heard of GambiaRising when she walked into the Westfield offices of the Catholic Education Secretariat (CES) to ask if they knew anyone offering scholarships. Her mom had borrowed money so she could pay her first tuition at the University of The Gambia, but she could not continue without help. We had never offered support for college to a student who we hadn't supported in secondary school, but we had worked with the CES since our program began in several schools they managed, so they knew how to reach out to us.
We couldn't say no. We paid off her mother's loan, then took over paying for her studies. Almost four years later, in 2016, we got a wonderful surprise: Fatou Kineh was going to receive her degree in Mathematics, summa cum laude. She was also named being named the University's Best Student in Mathematics, Best Female Science Student, Best Undergraduate Student, and Valedictorian of her Class. A modest young woman, she was in the nation's spotlight, featured in the national newspapers, telling her story, and GambiaRising's.
But Fatou Kineh was far from done. She applied to Ohio University to study for her Master's Degree in Mathematics. And was offered a full scholarship. It always amazes me that a "full scholarship" to study in the U.S. still costs more than 95% of Gambians could possibly afford. But we were able to supply what she needed, from visa fees to a new laptop and a plane ticket. And in the Fall of 2016, she arrived in Athens, Ohio. As part of her program, she taught math to undergraduates. And in May, 2018 Fatou Kineh received her Master's Degree.
Fatou Kineh had been home but once since 2016; to renew her passport. Was she homesick? Definitely. Was she ready to return in triumph? Hardly. She explained that to teach at the University of The Gambia required a Master's Degree. But to be a full professor she would need a PhD. There are certainly easier places in the world to study for a PhD than top-rate American universities . To receive a full scholarship from any of them would mean competing for space against the best students in the world. I don't know how many schools she applied to. But I do know that two of them offered her scholarships; both invited her to visit their campuses. "Do you need help with the plane tickets?" I asked. "No," she replied. "They will provide them."
And then it dawned on me: the universities were recruiting Fatou Kineh. Of course they were. And the winner was the University of Iowa.
Today, Fatou Kineh is just two years from receiving her PhD.
What is left is her dissertation. I recently caught up with her and she offered to send me the description of her subject that she had prepared for a research grant application that would allow her to work full time on it (i.e., without teaching). I won't attempt to paraphrase it, but have copied the description here.
I told Fatou it brought tears to my eyes to see how far she had come. She answered, "You have no idea the positive changes you are bringing to all the families these scholarships are helping and to the world at large. "
I do know this: there is a powerful cocktail at work here: highly motivated young Gambians looking for a chance for a better life, backed by donations from several hundred committed donors who maintain their support through thick and thin, and whose funding is multiplied in impact by a team of Gambian volunteer Coordinators (mostly teachers) who work in their own communities to identify and screen applicants, and then make sure the donated funds help as many students as possible.
That's another way of saying "We couldn't do this without you." Every piece of the puzzle is required. Motivated students. Committed and effective Coordinators working without pay in their own communities. But everything is fueled by your monthly donations, IRA distributions, charitable gift fund donations, birthday fundraisers, and periodic gifts.
If you are part of this; thank you so much for being part of GambiaRising. If you haven't joined us recently, please do. We're starting to plan for the new school year. And these young people deserve a chance.