Where are they now? 5 ChildFund alumni in The Gambia share their stories

Ever wonder where children go after graduating from our sponsorship program? The simple answer: anywhere and everywhere.

When you sponsor a child, you provide so much more than just financial assistance – you’re nurturing a child with a steady stream of encouragement and emotional support that can build their self-confidence and impact them for a lifetime. These five former sponsored children from our programs in The Gambia, a small country on Africa's west coast, are living testimonies to that fact. Read on to hear their stories in their own words!

Dino Bah, high school teacher

When Dino was first told that he got a sponsor named Claudia Mitchell, the sense of joy was palpable throughout his entire family. “I received this information while I was on my way to school and was told that I was supposed to write my first letter to my American sponsor,” he remembers. “That day, I was in such a hurry to reach home to write that letter. You cannot imagine how I felt when I received the first letter from Claudia, asking me how I was doing. I was over the moon!

“Thanks to sponsorship, I was able to pay my school fees, book bills, learning materials and even school lunch. I acquired the knowledge I was hoping for. I dreamed of attending higher educational institutions like the Gambia College, which came to fruition. Whenever I fell sick, healthcare services were accessible, as I was provided with medicine anytime I visited Mankana Health Center.”

Fast forward to today: Dino is now serving his community as a high school teacher. In addition to his regular duties, he also teaches summer classes and is involved in community service work such as environmental cleanups and awareness campaigns to tackle teenage pregnancy, child marriage and drug abuse.

“I serve as a representative in one of the ChildFund-supported youth groups, bringing young people together to complement and sustain the gains registered by the sponsorship program,” Dino says. “I thank ChildFund for their tremendous contribution towards the lives and livelihoods of so many people and urge them to continue involving youth in everyday programs, as it’s truly transformative.”

Isatou Fatty, entrepreneur and children’s advocate

“Growing up with a single parent as a guardian can be challenging for any child, especially when that caregiver has to take care of everything and everyone all on their own.”

That was the story of Isatou’s childhood. However, her life took a positive turn when she was enrolled for sponsorship at the age of 4. Through the program, Isatou had access to workshops, life skills training and peer-to-peer learning activities.

“Sponsorship contributed significantly to my growth, education and health,” Isatou says. “Gifts from my sponsor such as partial school fee payments, books, pencils and shoes played a vital role in supporting my education.”

Today, Isatou is self-employed as a fashion designer. “As part of my fashion design business, I am teaching other young people skills in the craft so that we can all grow,” she says. She is also super engaged in some exciting development initiatives in her community. “Some of my colleagues and I formed an association under Samaa-Kairo Federation, a local partner organization of ChildFund. We educate communities on child protection and engage children in various activities like poetry, writing, reading, debates and drama.”

Abdoulie Jammeh, project manager, United Nations Office for Project Services

“My journey with ChildFund began when I was in preschool,” Abdoulie says. “I got a sponsor known as Mathias Randhall. Through our friendship, we exchanged letters and pictures regularly, sharing our lives. She supported me to attain basic education at no cost.

“My tuition fees and other stationery were paid for throughout. This enabled me to excel in my education, coming top of my class at every end-of-term exam. ChildFund also ignited my interest in youth work and empowered me to become an active voice to address some social problems in my community. I was elected to sit on the board of an umbrella organization – a group of youth and children – as a children’s representative, implementing programs in local communities, and was exposed to child protection issues.

“ChildFund’s influence extended beyond just monetary assistance; it instilled in me a sense of responsibility and the desire to make a meaningful impact in the world. This ethos is something I carry into my work at the UN, where I am committed to managing projects that improve lives and foster sustainable development.

“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities that ChildFund’s sponsorship opened up for me. It has been a pivotal force in shaping the person I am today, allowing me to contribute positively to the global community.”

Neneh Bojang, accounting student

When she was younger, being part of ChildFund’s sponsorship programs afforded Neneh an opportunity she’ll never forget – to represent the organization at celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child in Malawi in 2018. She describes it as “the highest point in my journey with ChildFund – and my life so far.

“No matter what I become someday later in life, getting to moderate the intergenerational dialogue between Africa’s children and those high-level policymakers was something I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. Coming from a very humble background, to be tasked with such a huge responsibility, rubbing shoulders with prominent child protection experts at such a young age, will always remain an honor and privilege.”

Ever since Neneh embarked on that trip, she never lacked confidence or looked back. It renewed her optimism for the future – and her belief that she had all it took to realize the huge potential that ChildFund and our local partner organization Ding Yiriwaa Federation saw in her.

“By the time I graduated from high school, I came out with an impressive eight credits. I am currently studying at the Management Development Institute, pursuing an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) course. This couldn’t have happened without ChildFund, who has been there for me from my days as a child at an early childhood development center. I am what I am today because of the tremendous investment ChildFund made in my education and well-being.”

Mansour Mbye, pro athlete

Mansour Mbye is a Gambian soccer player and star striker who represented The Gambia at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina in 2023.

“When you support a child in need, they will never forget it,” Mansour says. “The impact lasts a lifetime. That’s my relationship with ChildFund. They sponsored me and provided for most of my needs when I was growing up in my community, Bijilo in the Western Region.

“My peers and I were enrolled at the village early childhood development center, which was established and funded by ChildFund through their local partner organization Ding Ding Yiriwa Federation. In our community, it was known simply as the ‘nursery school.’ It was the only nursery school in the area. ChildFund ensured we had access to educational materials, daily meals, and a proper children’s playground. I particularly loved playing football from a young age, and these essential provisions, which my parents couldn’t afford, laid a strong foundation for me.

“Today, I proudly represent The Gambia’s national football team, The Scorpions. I am immensely grateful to ChildFund for supporting me and giving me all the amazing opportunities that laid a solid foundation that has gotten me to where I am today.”

Sponsor a child today and see the difference you’ll make in their lives firsthand. Who knows – they could grow up to do some incredible things!