By Bubacarr Drammeh
John F. Kennedy once stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Many motivational speakers, politicians, scholars just to name a few repeatedly use this statement in their speeches to encourage their audience to do more for their communities and countries. Whereas many people understand it is a call to action, so many do not
know its full implications. Even those who claimed to comprehend Mr. Kennedy’s statement, they explained it differently to serve their arguments. Politicians in developing countries, on the other hand, invoke it to shirk responsibilities in doing the jobs they are hired. Some understand the statement is a call to public service to serve the common good. Others believe it is a call on businesses for social responsibilities. Yet, other people believe regardless of one’s politics of location in society — being it in the public or private sector, formal or informal sector, or living in the Diaspora — one should just do something positive for one’s country. None of these divergent views is wrong. Irrespective of one’s domicile, one can always contribute to the development of country and people.
Ms. Fatou Tassia Drammeh is a Kennedyesque social entrepreneur in the true sense of the word. Fatou is a native of Dippa Kunda, Chupe Town but now calls Atlanta, Georgia in the United States home. Despite living in the U.S., she has positively impacted the life of many youths in Dippa Kunda. She left the shores of The Gambia in 1992 as a young ambitious lady full of potentials, dreams, and goals to achieve for herself. Unfortunately, the commitments of a wife and mother derailed her from pursuing higher education. However, she ensured that all her children acquire college education.
Her only daughter was recently admitted to Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta; and her oldest son is attending Madinah University, in Saudi Arabia.
As a tireless social entrepreneur who is selfless, devoted and generous whenever Fatou is called to duty, she answers. And when she’s not called, she seeks out duty herself. On a visit to The Gambia in July 2010, she met with some youths who inspired her to invest in the community. Speaking to The Gambia Times on what motivated her to start helping the youths of Dippa Kunda, Fatou said that one day, when:
I came out of our family compound and I saw some boys sitting together brewing “Attaya”. They were talking about a soccer game they watched earlier in the day. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. I decided to join their conversation. I sat with them, listened to them, and finally decided to engage them by asking questions. This was when the whole “backway” saga had gained currency in The Gambia. I said to them I’m glad that none of ‘you seems to be thinking about the “backway.”’ One of the boys responded by telling me ‘sister, I prefer embarking on the dangerous “backway” journey to staying in The Gambia unemployed and with no funds to continue my education.’ His colleagues all aligned themselves with his statement. This pierced my heart and made me emotional. I told myself that this could have been my son. From that moment, I vowed to help youths in my community.
Fatou has been helping youths in her community privately and publicly to acquire education, training and other skills. She was able to inspire and motivate the youths to organize themselves for recreational sports and social activities. She is the main sponsor of Dippa Kunda Youth Football Tournament. When asked what motivated her to invest in youths, she said “the youths are our future, they are tomorrow’s leaders.”
The residents in the community are grateful for her commitment to youths’ empowerment. Speaking to The Gambia Times, Kamo Drammeh, the Secretary General of Dippa Kunda Youths Association for Sports and Development said:
The football tournament sponsored by Fatou has united the youths in the community. Last year, the local team from her community that participated in the Sere Kunda West Newettan reached the finals and the semi-finals of the League Cup and the FA Cup respectively. This was the first time something like that happened in the history of our community since we started participating in those tournaments. All the players were discovered from the community tournament Fatou Tassia Drammeh has been sponsoring. In fact, our neighbors in Manjai Kunda and Latri Kunda thanked us for allowing their youths to participate. They said that the tournament has prepared their youths for bigger tournaments including the Manjai Kunda and Sere Kunda West Newettans. Fatou’s dedication to youths’ empowerment made these possible. We are grateful for everything.
Every community has its local hero or heroine whom the young in society look up to as a role model. The people of Chupe Town in Dippa Kunda appreciate and value her contributions. As Basamba Drammeh, a youth activist and native of Dippa Kunda, puts it “we need many Fatous in every single community in The Gambia, and people like her should be celebrated and encouraged in their efforts to helping the underprivileged.”