Meeting Day 2012 was held on 4th of March in Brikama

Main theme of the programme was: IMAGINATION AND DECISIVINESS TO SHAPE YOUR OWN FUTURE

SPEECH by Mrs Isha Fofana,
CEO of Woman’s Museum & Art Centre ‘Mama Africa’ in Batokunku, The Gambia, during the 4th Meeting Day for students, sponsored by the Dutch Foundation Dem Daradje, on 4th March 2012 in The Gambia College, Brikama, The Gambia.

Dear students, let me begin by telling you, that I did not write anything down. Because apart from the fact that I do not believe in that, I want to speak to you 'from the hart' and before I do that, I like to start by giving you all a hand.
Today is a special day! Here we are together because you are given a opportunity...to grow.. to grow strong and to learn. And by doing so you can stand up and to make a difference for our country. Not me... but you... are the future of The Gambia. And you are all! very special, because you have the courage to do so... Which is BIG…because the problem here in The Gambia is… that you are not given a push. Nobody is telling you how good you are, nobody is telling you “you can make dreams happen” if you want to! We are surrounded with negative and dismotivating voices… we hear them on the radio we hear from our families And they reason you are here, means you can show them other wise, you can make a difference.


And I call out to you...! When you make it...! PLEASE do not forget to speak your voice positive. Because without that, its hard to grow, without that its so hard to believe, without ! is because so little Gambians are proud to be Gambian.

So when you are there, SAY IT...when you are there, do not forget it., and if you forget it yourself...'come to me!' I’ll give you a push! I can not offer you a lot… but what I can...is giving you a PUSH. So never forget… my door is open to you!

When you learn! You can take care of yourself, you can stand on your own, so many people think wrong about that, they think with money they made it, and then they found out... is not true...! I have seen many Gambians make that mistake. Because money its only for the moment and you need more of it! All the time! It is the wisdom! It’s the knowledge that is there for a lifetime it makes you proud! Independent, strong and… because of that, it will give you freedom!

I travelled thru Europe seeing people from The Gambia get lost You might think, you want to go to Europe to America or Asia… But maybe you wont be happy, because… to begin with it is cold! People there are on themselves and we, because we think we need money… we grab to wrong things, things like drugs or alcohol… easy money! For the moment! Or we get married! we marry a white man or woman! But our problems wont be gone…. Because we do not feel proud we do not feel appreciated..!



And yes...! I hear you think! Yes my husband who is here with me (even though he is not very well today) he is a tubab! (a white man). But you are wrong! When I was travelling in Europe, I did not feel happy! I was looking , what can I do!!!! And when I met Bernd and it was TRUE LOVE! It was the first time, somebody was seeing me for who I am! And he pushed me, he gave me confidence made me feel good about myself… but still I was restless, because I am from the Gambia and I want to do something for my country… because I feel proud to be Gambian.

And especially to the girls I want to say. How much I respect them. Because being a woman in The Gambia, it is not always easy! Here I would like to make a side way… something different that I think should be said to the boys! Because you do not appreciate Gambian woman too much, they think they have a to dark skin.. they use rubbish to bleach their skin… and my dear man, its up to you say how stupid this is. Woman get hurt! Its up to you to see our dark skin and to see! How beautiful we are!!! And I am so happy to see the girls here did not make this mistake and look how beautiful! So boys remember! Girls be proud, you have all the reason to do so… stand up tall, when you respect yourself, people will notice that. So do not look down, pinch your nails... make them hear your voice! Presentation is so important! Because when you believe in what you are saying! People will listen!

When you believe in what you are learning, if you truly like what you are learning for...you will accomplish more easy. But if you doubt what you are learning, be aware! Because when the dislike, the no interest, the feeling you are not on the right spot, comes in it will make things harder, when the motivation goes low… you will not accomplish!

Because besides education you will need enthusiasm… to continue… because learning is not easy. his time is not easy.. you need joy and interest to make it.

So when you have doubt! Talk about it! and if the doubt stays with you CHANGE it … do it now! Because now, you are in a situation, that you have help, to do so!

Me I believe in what I am doing! And amongst a lot of other things I love art! I make paintings! And no! I do not sell them cheap! Because I am good in what I do... and most important I believe in it. And I am strong I am so strong, that if life puts me down! I get back up. If some body slaps me! I slap back… harder.. if somebody kicks me I kick back…harder! Nobody slaps me! Because I slap back!

You are the future!!! And these years of learning the years of studying… these years… they are “the toughest” they really are!!! But... after that, it will be more easy you will be walking around picking the fruit...pick, pick, pick... and... you will eat them.

And when ever you feel in need for a push, if you need somebody to tell you how great you are! Even when you are not on that moment, because you do not have to be great...to hear...that you are!!

Come to me... my doors are always open to you…come… and I will give you a push!!!!!!!

Let us not forget to be great full to the opportunity that is given to you by ‘Dem Daradje’ they are giving you a chance to grow and to make a difference… I like to thank them too!!

But most of all I like to thank you… you are beautiful people...the future of The Gambia


Summary made by: Mrs. Amber de Grauw, Rotterdam NL

See here for programme as followed during the Meeting Day