Ousman Baldeh currently works in the engineering department of the Banjul ferries, although he has yet to gain official engineering qualifications so he can further his career. We have been very impressed with his motivation and determination to further his education, despite many difficulties on the way. This is his story:

My name is Ousman Baldeh, I was born on the 16th day of April 1977 in a village called Kerewan Samba Sire situated in the Central River Region, 289km from the capital city Banjul.

I was send to school by one teacher called Mrs Fatou Darboe as my father could not afford to send me. For two consecutive years Mrs Fatou Darboe had been buying uniforms, shoes and books for me. Later she transferred to another school. She had wanted to go with me but my dad refused. I've already started building interest in education, due to the support and motivation Mrs Darboe had been giving me so I started to go to the bush to find firewood and sell the in order to buy books, shoes and uniforms. I also went to weed people's farms during the holidays for a small amount of pay. This I continued up to primary six when I sat to the then Common Entrance Examination and gained admission to Armitage Middle School. This was what I was doing until I completed my grade nine examinations and gained admission to grade ten in the same school. On Friday 6th December 1996 my father died so I was alone.

I continued working hard by making blocks for people and saving money until such a time that I joined a training institute. I was admitted because I explained myself to the director and she understood my conditions at once. For three good years I was going to the institution (Gambia Technical Training Institute) studying engineering, but I could not pay for my exams fee. I have therefore finished all the work needed – the only thing standing in my way is not being able to afford the exam fees.

Now I go to different engineering workshops and having practical under them but I cannot have a job to sustain myself because I need to sit for an exam and get a document to produce for a company in order to obtain a job. I really want to have a skill in order to be able to take care of myself together with my family. I would be very much grateful if someone can come to my aid. I need in the region of £200 in order to take the exams and I will then be qualified and able to get a job which will mean I can support my family – my wife and children, as well as my mother and brothers and sisters who are dependent on me.

God bless you!!!

Thanks to the generous donors in the UK who have provided the funds needed for Ousman, he is now able to sit his exams in December.

If you are able to help others like him then please get in touch  »