A realised dream in The Gambia - Tekkii Fii

A realised dream in The Gambia - Tekkii Fii**

Our childhood is painted with dreams, hopes and aspirations of who we can be and what we can do. Children everywhere have a visual representation of the super heroes they want to become to save and protect the world. At just 9years, Luwang Cessay found solace in her father’s tailoring shop where she found joy operating sewing machines of all kinds. Even when her tiny feet failed to touch the pedals, her dreams and hopes to become a tailor in the future kept her on her toes.

Luwang Ceesay, the only seamstress in Pakalinding, is on a journey to realise her dreams and grow her father’s legacy. As a beneficiary of the Tekki Fii Mini Grant, she has grown a business that operated within the four corners of her living room and a single sewing machine to a tailoring shop along the highway with 3 sewing machines and other necessities for the growth of her business. According to her, “Before the grant, my only market was my relatives and people in my immediate surrounding. But now, a lot of people see my shop and they get to see me work. This past Eid-ul-Adha celebration is a perfect depiction of how much my business has grown.”

Just like a lot of young people in The Gambia with dreams and ideas to make it in the country, she was caught up in financial obstacles she never imagined would come to pass. However, with persistence, dedication and support from the European Union Luwang has jumped past these hurdles closer to her goals. She believes “Everything you aim for can be achieved and everything you tell yourself can be done - will be done”.

Luwang sends sincere gratitude to the European Union for their support. She said “they are the reason I am who I am today. They fueled my aspirations and made it a reality”.

When asked what her message to young people of The Gambia is, Luwang called them to work. She said “Do not lose hope and idle around. Just like a scroll through a grant application on facebook bought my dreams a few feet closer to me your dreams will come true when you work towards achieving them.”

Do you have dreams you would like to see come true? The Tekkii Fii mini grant is here for you!

https://yep.gm/opportunity/tekki-fii-grants

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