Child Sponsorship

When Bubacarr was a young boy in rural Gambia, the future looked uncertain. His father was opposed to formal schooling, believing Quranic education was the only path. It was Bubacarr’s older brother who defied the odds and got him enrolled in school, but even then, paying for his education remained an impossible challenge.

That was until a life-changing opportunity came along.

It was during a routine visit by ChildFund staff  taking photos of children for potential sponsorship that Bubacarr’s life took a turn.

As he puts it, “Getting sponsored was like a miracle.”

Coming from a large extended family, with parents who had no formal employment and depended entirely on farming, the idea of completing school, let alone going to college, had once seemed far-fetched.

But sponsorship changed everything.

Bubacarr pauses for a moment, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and disbelief at how far he’s come.

“Sponsorship elevated me from a village boy into a public figure recognized nationwide for my work in child and youth development. Today, I hold a bachelor’s degree and am currently pursuing a master’s degree, all made possible through sponsorship. I now serve as a Lecturer at The Gambia College,” he says, beaming with pride.

Bubacarr’s journey has been marked by service to others. As a student, he threw himself into leadership and community service: participating in school clubs, volunteering with the Gambia Red Cross.

His commitment to youth even took him to the national stage.

“Thanks to my children and youth development work, I was employed at the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission as the Youth and Children’s Network Coordinator for 3 years.”

But some of his fondest memories come from the personal bond with his sponsor.

“Apart from paying school fees, my sponsor occasionally sent me some money, particularly when we had religious feasts like Eid-al Adha. Those monies helped a long way, many times, in putting smiles on my face as a child.”