Interview with the Steve Sinnott Young Ambassadors in The Gambia

We interviewed two of our young ambassadors in The Gambia about their experience of working with The Steve Sinnott Foundation and Send My Friend To School as campaigners for Education For All.

 

Both Fatoumatta Jabbi and Therese P. Mendy have worked to promote Education For All with Send My Friend to School and The Steve Sinnott Foundation, campaigning to help women and children in their communities understand the importance of education and enrol at school.



SSF - What did you learn from your time as an SSF young ambassador?

 

Fatoumatta - As a young ambassador, I have learned that children especially girls faced big hurdles such as cultural intolerance, remote locations, violent conflict, and poverty which are factors that prevent girls from receiving the basic human rights of education. 

 

Therese - I have learned a lot during my time as SSF young ambassador. I have learned to appreciate people with different backgrounds and understand that due to certain circumstances surrounding them can affect their ways of living.



SSF – Did you enjoy being an SSF Ambassador, was it hard or easy?

 

Fatoumatta - I have really enjoyed speaking for the voiceless children which had always been my passion but the journey wasn't quite easy as it went through some rigorous processes. Campaigning is not an easy task and it comes with a big responsibility.

 

Therese – Yes I enjoyed. It was not so hard nor easy, for it required a great responsibility to carry out. It was indeed a privilege and honour to be a young ambassador of SSF.



SSF – What did you learn from EFA with Send My Friend to School?

 

Fatoumatta - First of all, it was a delight seeing you all and working together to ensure that our voices are heard. Your efforts and kind gestures towards these children we advocate for, have encouraged me to do more in my community.

 

I have learned that we can only achieve goals when we all come together in unity and motivate each other. Also with our diverse culture, we were able to send messages to the world. Meeting with campaigners in the UK was indeed a beautiful moment. The schools and places we went to visit, really opened my eyes to see the world differently from the perspective I had before our visit to the UK.

Also, I learned about the different ways of campaigning in the UK from our fellow campaigners. Their educational system and how children are guided in the UK. Attending the Conservative Party conference and getting to meet some MPs and an opportune moment to talk to them about our campaign.



SSF – What were the benefits of your trip to the UK?

 

Fatoumatta - It was indeed a great honour and privilege to be given the opportunity to travel to the UK, it has boosted my confidence and made me a better version of myself. It makes me realize that my voice can be heard and make a change not only in The Gambia but the world at large.


Secondly, it makes me know the outside world. I have learned so many things in the UK including their government system, cultures, and a lot more. It was like a dream come true getting to meet young ambassadors from different states in the UK sharing knowledge and ideas.

 

Therese – First of all, it was a privilege to travel to the UK in 2017 and associate with our Fellow Campaign Champions. As a History student, our visit to the UK especially to the Parliament has really enlightened my knowledge of the Monarchical system adopted in Britain. The images of King Henry with his eight wives, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth the First are all treasured memories to be shared with others. Also, the interaction and educational moments we had with Members of Parliament was beneficial to us all.



SSF – Best and worst moments

 

Fatoumatta - All the moments were indeed wonderful but one of the moments that I will always remember is going to Manchester to attend the conservative party conference.
Living in the same house with the ‘elders’ is always a memory that will forever remain in my heart! You have all shown us love to support, and kindness, and we were welcomed with open arms and I will be forever grateful.

 

Therese – All the moments we had were wonderful. The fact that I learnt about, and experienced a new environment in UK left a lasting mark in my heart. The schools we visited were one of the best moments, and the effort put together by Ann, Ellie, John, Ema and all the members of the SSF that came on board was priceless.



SSF – What might you do differently?

 

Fatoumatta - I would improve on training more of my fellow students in school and making it a never-ending campaign, through this all voices would be heard and all children would be sent to school.

 

Therese – To improve in my campaigning techniques. And be a passionate spokesperson. In order to bring difference in the Society.



SSF – How easy is it for young womens’ voices to be heard?

 

Fatoumatta - It might be hard to believe, but we still live in a world where girls everywhere are having to fight to have their voices heard, for their opinions to matter and for decision makers to make choices that consider the reality that girls face every day. And it doesn't stop when girls become women.

 

As a young person, I understand the need to exercise my civic rights because I have seen and felt what it feels like to be deprived of quality and inclusive education. I have also seen the power of education breaking the cycle of poverty, transforming lives, and building resilient societies.

 

When we invest strongly in education, everyone benefits. Providing girls with education and equal opportunities will make them empowered women who will contribute to the construction of a just, equitable, and progressive society.

 

Therese – To start with, history has shown that the young woman's voice in Africa was not valued. Women were less involved in decision making or issues towards the growth of the society. Her voice was regarded unimportant.


With time, and the advancement of education in our society, the educated young woman's voice is heard. Unlike, the woman who is not educated. As the saying goes "when you educate a girl child, you educate the whole wide world". I stand to believe this statement.


These young women are going out to raise awareness in our societies. To help their fellow women to know their rights and the importance of being educated. It is not the work of a woman but women in general. Coming together and knowing their position in the society, that every voice matters in every discussion or issues in the world at large.


The young woman must not be given a blind-eye. Her voice is equally important, in connection with the question her voice is not easily heard, but this can be changed. How? Education is the answer. Knowledge is indeed power. If the young woman knows her position, ready to embrace change and the importance of her voice. Definitely, things would change for the better.



SSF – What impact had this opportunity had on you?

 

Fatoumatta - This opportunity made me be a better version of myself. It makes me be able to fight for children's rights and speak for them at our community level, country, and the world at large.

 

Therese – The fear to speak up in every situation I faced as a young woman has been a great challenge to me. Education has indeed enlightened me to be heard. And thus, I have overcome the fear of being silent. This opportunity had positively impacted on me, that is, the spirit to reach out to people and raise awareness in their communities.



SSF – What have you achieved since then personally and in your community?

 

Fatoumatta - So far, I have been able to sensitize many local women and children in my community about the importance of education and the need for them to send their children to school, and fortunately, the majority of the children are now been enrolled in schools and performing well.

 

Therese – As I grew each day as a young woman and accepting to learn, has really changed my perception of the world around me. I stand to speak to avoid being abused or harassed at anytime. To give my contribution in any discussion or situation concerning my wellbeing and that of all others. And knowing my rights as a young woman. In my community, I was able to talk with young women who were out of school and children who were not sent to school due to lack of financial support.



SSF – What is your next goal in life?

 

Fatoumatta - I want to further my education and continue fighting for girls’ education, their empowerment, and their rights. In that I will continue my journey. I want to empower more young girls like me so that it’s not just about one girl speaking out but we have hundreds and thousands of girls speaking out. We give them a voice. We give them a platform. Once you encourage them, once you tell them that your voice can change the world, then they can do it, they can come forward and speak out for themselves.

 

Therese – My next goal in life is to motivate young men and women to be educated. To seek knowledge, for it is key! And Ensure that children have quality education for a brighter future.



Steve Sinnott • November 22, 2021

Local Heroes: Listening to Young Voices

By Ann Beatty • July 23, 2026
Something is energising about spending time with people who genuinely care about children and young people. That was my experience at this year’s Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield. I had the privilege of joining the Local Heroes panel, sharing the story of Seeds of Hope for a Better Future - a partnership between UNESCO ASPnet UK and partners across the U.K and globally. Seeds of Hope has connected partners through collaboration on projects and has grown in the past year. One of the projects highlighted was the Lights Camera Score programme in schools, which is now working on an exciting project with Calderdale Council and the English Chamber Orchestra, which will showcase this August at Shibden House. As we enter the second year of the competition, it was encouraging to discover how much interest there is from writers, producers, educators and creatives who are asking the same question: How can we help young people imagine and create a better future? What struck me most throughout the conference was the intention behind the conversations. Rather than assuming what young people need, there was a genuine desire to listen, understand and create media that reflects their lives, their challenges and their aspirations. One of the most thought-provoking sessions gave the microphone to young people themselves. They were asked about the proposed social media ban for under-16s, and their responses were refreshingly honest. Their message was clear: they believed the ban would be difficult to enforce because young people would inevitably find ways around it. Instead of excluding them from digital spaces, they argued that our focus should be on making those spaces safer and on helping young people develop the skills they need to navigate an increasingly digital world. One comment in particular stayed with me. A young panellist admitted, “Yes, it’s true I spend too much time on social media but so do all of you adults in the room.” The audience responded with warm applause. It was a reminder that young people notice the contradictions in the messages they receive, and that meaningful dialogue begins with honesty rather than judgement. That session reinforced something I have long believed: if we are serious about shaping the future, we must involve the people who will inherit it. Too often, decisions are made about young people rather than with them. Yet when we create opportunities for them to share their ideas, they offer thoughtful, creative and practical perspectives that deserve to be heard. That spirit resonates deeply with the values behind Seeds of Hope for a Better Future. The competition is built on a simple but powerful belief: when children and young people are allowed to express their ideas through creativity, they do more than imagine change; they begin to shape it. Over the past two years we have seen young people respond with imagination, compassion and practical solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Their artwork, writing, films and performances remind us that hope is not passive; it is something we nurture through creativity, collaboration and action. I left Sheffield feeling optimistic. Not because all the answers exist, but because I met so many talented people committed to listening to young voices and working alongside them. The enthusiasm shown for Seeds of Hope for a Better Future affirmed that there is a growing movement of educators, creatives and media professionals who believe children and young people should not only be represented in stories but also help shape them. Perhaps that is what being a local hero is really about. It is not about having all the answers. It is about creating the conditions for others to flourish, listening with curiosity and planting seeds of hope that will continue to grow long after the conversation has ended. You can follow the journeys below: https://www.stageatthelake.co.uk/seeds-of-hope https://threestonesmedia.co.uk/blog/portfolio-item/lights-camera-score/ Entries for Seeds of Hope for a Better Future for 2026 have closed, and we will be back again next year: https://unesco.org.uk/ For inspiration, you might like to have a look at the 2025 Winners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bb8PJS5j7k Ann Beatty UNESCO ASPnet Coordinator UK CEO, The Steve Sinnott Foundation Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/over-the-horizon License code: ZFK6D180PHNWXSYQ

Report on the GTU/Steve Sinnott Foundation Community Sensitisation on School related Gender Based Violence - June 2026

By Marie Antoinette Corr • June 10, 2026
1. Background and Rationale In The Gambia, school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) remains a serious barrier to education. Girls are most at risk, though boys can be targeted too and human rights organisations increasingly recognise poverty itself as a form of structural gender-based violence. Period poverty - the lack of access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation sits at the heart of this problem. Without safe facilities or affordable pads, many women and girls are pushed into transactional sex just to manage their periods, exposing them to serious risk of physical and sexual assault. Even without that direct danger, period poverty quietly excludes girls from school and public life: missing class due to a lack of pads or poor toilet facilities fuels absenteeism, dropout, low self-esteem, and often early marriage, deepening cycles of poverty. This is a global crisis hiding in plain sight. An estimated 500 million of the 800 million people who menstruate worldwide struggle to afford period products, and nearly 1 in 4 students faces the same barrier. A burden that falls hardest on the already marginalised. In The Gambia, girls who can't afford sanitary pads often face poor academic performance, truancy, and lasting health and psychological effects. A lack of education around menstruation breeds stigma around something entirely normal and healthy. That's why community sensitisation is so critical. Breaking the taboo helps reframe menstrual products as necessities, not luxuries, and gives women and girls the tools to manage their health with dignity, including safe alternatives like reusable pads where commercial products aren't accessible. Training women to sew their own reusable pads goes further still, building not just access but autonomy and confidence. With GBV cases rising in both schools and communities, the need for coordinated action has never been more urgent. Tackling SRGBV and period poverty specifically isn't the job of one institution alone; it requires educators, communities, and stakeholders working together toward one goal: menstrual dignity and bodily autonomy for every woman and girl. In response, the Gambia Teachers Union, with funding from the Steve Sinnott Foundation, held three community sensitisation sessions on SRGBV and period poverty from 5–7 June 2026. Sessions included demonstrations on making reusable sanitary pads and distributed materials for step-down training in schools and communities. A total of 312 participants, including school mothers' clubs, community and religious leaders, and traditional communicators, attended across three venues: Farafenni Community Centre, Brikamaba Senior Secondary School Hall, and the Regional Education Directorate 4 (Mansakonko) Conference Hall. 2. Objectives Sensitise stakeholders on SRGBV and its impact on girls Offer a durable alternative to costly disposables, easing pressure on family budgets Improve hygiene and health to prevent infection Build community skills to make affordable, sustainable products like reusable pads Promote safe, inclusive school environments Break stigma through community-wide education Establish safe, confidential reporting pathways beyond traditional barriers Challenge harmful norms, victim-blaming, and cultures of silence Unite Mothers' Clubs and female teachers, leveraging their social and structural influence Build peer support networks with access to trusted adults for emotional support Expand access to menstrual products and champion menstrual equity The sensitisation was on Promote safe menstrual practices to prevent infections from unhygienic alternatives (rags, tissue, leaves, etc.) Teach private, hygienic methods for changing, washing, and drying Train girls and women to produce eco-friendly reusable pads from local materials Establish community-led pad banks and income-generating sewing groups for women Address the reality that girls miss 5 school days a month due to lack of pads or fear of leakage and bullying Level the academic playing field by reducing dropout gaps between boys and girls Shift community narratives to remove taboos and myths around menstruation Engage boys and men to build empathy and normalise periods as a shared, natural issue, not a "women's burden" The sessions were highly participatory, allowing teachers to share experiences, raise concerns, and explore context-specific solutions. Training on period poverty alleviation is critical because it empowers communities, breaks dangerous taboos, and tackles the economic, health and educational barriers associated with menstruation. By building local capacity, it creates sustainable long-term solutions. Participants were happy about the training and committed to conducting step-down trainings for other Mothers' Clubs and adolescent girls in their schools. Participants were given sets of materials to start with. The pads will help girls have a reliable and sustainable solution to their menstrual worries, hence enabling them to avoid infections, exploitation, shame, low self-esteem, stress, and they will remain in school Materials for Distribution

In Harmony With Peace Concert

By Ann Beatty • June 1, 2026
On Friday evening ( 29 May, 7.00 pm The Actors Church Covent Garden) we had the pleasure of listening to this very special concert, bringing together the Choir of King's College London and the Princeton High School Orchestra in a celebration of international friendship, collaboration, and shared values. This project reflects a commitment to peace, sustainability, equality, and cultural exchange, uniting young musicians from the United Kingdom and the United States through the universal language of music.