Guidom Sabally’s high school education was cut short because his family could no longer afford the tuition. For many years, he struggled to find work as a laborer.
Now in his 40s, Mr. Sabally was able to seize the opportunity to receive free technical training, offered by a training program led by the United Nations, in 2018; After completing the course, he found work as an engineer, overseeing the construction of culverts – elevated roads that allow his community to pass through flooded land, the consequences of climate change are affects many parts of the country.
He explained to UN News that, with the money he saved, he was able to branch out and become a successful poultry farmer.
“I live in my family home in the village of Brikamaba, where I was born, in the Central River Region of the Gambia. There were 14 of us, my brothers and sisters, their children and my father.
Life here is difficult. There are not enough jobs and when a job is available it is usually only available for a short period of time. Therefore, it is difficult for the people here to feed their families.
When I dropped out of high school, I was very sad. I knew that without education, it would be very difficult for me to learn the skills needed to become a professional and advance in life. For many years, it was very difficult for me to find a job.
Guidom Sabally received skills training as part of a United Nations-led program in Gambia
Breakthrough on a new career
In 2018, a friend of mine heard a radio ad about a free technical training course organized by the United Nations that would give me construction skills. He told me about it, and I applied.
I had no trouble going back to school even though I was 38 years old at the time. The teachers know exactly how to support me. I learned many useful skills, including construction, carpentry, drawing and decorating.
At the same time, I can also earn money by working in the UN sewer construction project. At first, I worked as a worker, collecting gravel, moving rocks, doing whatever was necessary.
After graduation, I was able to work on the next sewer project as a trained engineer, and currently I supervise a team of 50 workers.
Road culvert built using EU-funded UNCDF program in Gambia
‘Women can do anything men do’
We have 25 men and 25 women, because gender equality is an important part of the project. At the start, people in the community would say that women can’t do this work, but today, they are seeing the benefits!
In addition to the money they provide, women can now work with their husbands to improve their own homes, which they can contribute to decision-making, planning and construction.
Women can do anything that men do, from fixing rebar to building bricks. We must give them the opportunity to show what they are capable of.
Adapting to climate change
Building sewers is very important, because of climate change. The rains in the Gambia have become increasingly extreme and cause roads to erode. These drains will allow the community to bypass flooded areas during the rainy season.
This will make a big difference. Children will be able to go to school, we will be able to access healthcare and businesses will be able to trade.
Everything will be easier because now, when there is heavy rain, people have to travel a much longer distance to cross the water. These higher paths will change our lives.”
A customer buys chicken from Guidom Sabally’s poultry farm in rural Gambia
‘This belly is never full!’
Sewer construction projects are hard work, and I’m not young anymore! Also, they will be phased out soon, so it’s important to learn about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship so you save some hard-earned money. My grandfather used to say “this belly is never full”; You always have to think about how you will have your next meal!
I decided to invest my hard earned money in opening a poultry farm and it is working well for me. I started with 50 chicks and with the money I earned from selling eggs and chickens I could buy 100. Everything is going well. I don’t even have to go to the market; People come to me, and I sell very easily.
I am planning to rebuild the farm and add more lights so I can raise more chickens. I want about 600 people and employ some young unemployed in my community.
I want to pass on the skills I’ve learned, so they can start their own businesses. I can’t do it all alone! More people need to understand the importance of saving and investing. Because, even if you have millions of dollars, if you spend millions of dollars, you will have nothing.
I am glad that I was able to acquire the skills to work on the sewer project, as I am now a professional builder and a successful poultry farmer. I was able to further fund technical training, earn a high-level diploma, and send my children to school. My life is so much better than before.”
