Name: Lamin Jarjusey

Country: The Gambia

My name is Modou Lamin Jarjusey, a student of the University of The Gambia, UTG, pursuing Political Science. I am a gender activist and an educational advocator. In 2010, I received training from the Forum for African Women Educationalists, Gambia Chapter (FAWEGAM). I was trained on gender equality and equity, girl’s education, and women empowerment under Fawe’s Tuseme Clubs. As a result, I developed a strong sense of reasoning towards women and girls especially in the area of education.

As the Vice-chairperson of my school’s Tuseme Club, I worked with other members of the club in making sure that our voices are heard. This we did by conducting dramas on assembly, giving out speeches on girl’s education, songs, and poetry. We also partnering with other Tuseme school clubs in combating the sufferings girls face at school and support them acquire education.

While at UTG, I applied for internship at FAWEGAM in 2016 and I was accepted for a six-month role with a four-month extension thereafter. During that time, I experience the art of programming and program management as well as proper coordinating. I was active in representing the organization in meetings, and workshops and this I would always report back to the organization. Again, I was active in distributing letters to different organization; invitations to workshops or meetings, organized my FAWEGAM.

In August 2017, I was selected to represent the FAWEGAM alumni at the African girl’s conference in Zambia (Lusaka). Being the only male alumni present at the conference, I talked on the issues women and girls are facing in The Gambia, towards education and same way lay down pleading demands on how to address those matters. I was given the responsibility to directly engage 16 African Ministers of Education on Gender mainstreaming in schools. I must say, the social capital that I gained as a result has opened numerous doors for me.

Today, I am one of the million youths in the world fighting for a just cause in ending all forms of violence against women and girls, and as well empower women and girls to acquire education for development. I am a member of the HE4SHE association; an association under the ‘’Network against Gender Based Violence’’, the girl agenda, the girl generation, and voice of the young support group.

I am a graduate of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) online cohort 6, and also the Kectil colleague web-based leadership fellowship. All in a way, to empower women and girls’ education.