The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented socio-economic challenges in The Gambia. Small businesses are affected through production constraints, supply chain disruptions and marketing challenges. Wholesale and retail trade accounts for a third of the Gambian economy. The transport and storage subsector is also critical for the efficient functioning of the wider economy linking production with consumption and ensuring the provision of essential goods and services.

Young Gambian entrepreneurs are already providing valuable services in the logistics and transport sector that help cope with the impact of the crisis. To further facilitate the distribution of products and essentials goods, the European Union funded Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) is handing over equipment to Gambian entrepreneurs. The support includes 8 Tricycles, 5 solar-powered Tricycles, and 13 bicycles to five logistics companies as well as the Young Poultry Farmers Association. The five logistics companies have been selected based on their potential for growth and in particular for creating jobs for young Gambians. They include Farm Fresh, Yonima Errands, Tostito, Navig8 Solutions (Fatfat), Dex logistic company and Young Poultry Farmers Association.

Jariatou Jallow, CEO of Yonima Errands affirmed that "We are grateful to the European Union in the Gambia and the Youth Empowerment Project for the continued support and commitment to supporting Gambian entrepreneurs. This will help us increase our supply chain and address market disruption challenges caused by the COVID-19" The European Union Ambassador in The Gambia, Atilla Lajos, stated: "The e-solar tricycles is part of our efforts to promote environmentally friendly solutions to the transport challenges in The Gambia. We will continue to support Gambian youth through YEP and other Tekki Fii partners to grow and create jobs for others".

The initiative directly supports the private sector to create jobs and generate income for young Gambians. Boosting the growth of the transport and logistic companies is expected to benefit the wider economy. The equipment support includes the provision of e-bikes, an environmentally friendly solution to the transport challenges in The Gambia. These 5 solar powered tricycles will emit less greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their lifespan than traditional engine tricycles. Also, this is in line with the European Union’ s climate action globally and in particular its support to a green Gambia.

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 fuelled 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!

In Soma, a community about 125km away from Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia, resides a young man motivated to make ends meet and pull his family out of the pits of poverty. Lamin Saidy, a renowned auto-mechanic in his neighbourhood is inspired by the deep desire to ensure his younger siblings live a better life, have access to quality education and other basic amenities to create a better future for themselves. Lamin has worked as a mechanic for over 15years now where he earns a living and provides for his family. Lamin shared “My family and I have lived through many difficulties. I wake up every day with thoughts of them and ways to make their lives better”.

Like a lot of young people in The Gambia, Lamin spent long nights in his room contemplating about embarking on the irregular journey to Europe. This, like the many young and hungry people The Gambia has lost in the deadly Mediterranean Sea, he believed was his easy pass to make his dreams and desires for his family come true. Deep in thoughts, Lamin reflected on those gloomy days… “I remember how I told myself that I will embark on this journey for my family. That I was useless if I could not make their lives better”. After hearing about the Social Development Fund mini load scheme through the International Trade Centre, Lamin decided to give life one more shot in The Gambia.

In 2019, on a very sunny afternoon with little motivation and will to complete his tasks for the day, Lamin was met with the news of his successful application. With a broad smile and eyes hungry to conquer the world, Lamin said “I felt happy. I was engulfed with immense joy and my first thoughts were ways to expand and grow my business”. When Lamin received the loan, he bought materials for the mechanic workshop he works for, started his own establishment and bought a tractor to deal stones and sand where he has employed about 5 young people in Soma. He said: “Before the loan, I was working for someone else but now I have my own business where I have employed other young people in my community. The grant has really changed my life”. Now in his final loan payment phase, Lamin shared that this is the best thing that have happened to him.

Lamin wants every young person that reads his story to be inspired and walk down the streets of The Gambia with hopes that they too can make it in The Gambia. He shared “The population of The Gambia is dominated by young people and for this we should work hard for the development of the country.”

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented socio-economic challenges in The Gambia. Small businesses are affected through production constraints, supply chain disruptions and marketing challenges. Wholesale and retail trade accounts for a third of the Gambian economy. The transport and storage subsector is also critical for the efficient functioning of the wider economy linking production with consumption and ensuring the provision of essential goods and services.

Young Gambian entrepreneurs are already providing valuable services in the logistics and transport sector that help cope with the impact of the crisis. To further facilitate the distribution of products and essentials goods, the European Union funded Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) is handing over equipment to Gambian entrepreneurs. The support includes 8 Tricycles, 5 solar-powered Tricycles, and 13 bicycles to five logistics companies as well as the Young Poultry Farmers Association. The five logistics companies have been selected based on their potential for growth and in particular for creating jobs for young Gambians. They include Farm Fresh, Yonima Errands, Tostito, Navig8 Solutions (Fatfat), Dex logistic company and Young Poultry Farmers Association.

Jariatou Jallow, CEO of Yonima Errands affirmed that "We are grateful to the European Union in the Gambia and the Youth Empowerment Project for the continued support and commitment to supporting Gambian entrepreneurs. This will help us increase our supply chain and address market disruption challenges caused by the COVID-19" The European Union Ambassador in The Gambia, Atilla Lajos, stated: "The e-solar tricycles is part of our efforts to promote environmentally friendly solutions to the transport challenges in The Gambia. We will continue to support Gambian youth through YEP and other Tekki Fii partners to grow and create jobs for others".

The initiative directly supports the private sector to create jobs and generate income for young Gambians. Boosting the growth of the transport and logistic companies is expected to benefit the wider economy. The equipment support includes the provision of e-bikes, an environmentally friendly solution to the transport challenges in The Gambia. These 5 solar powered tricycles will emit less greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their lifespan than traditional engine tricycles. Also, this is in line with the European Union’ s climate action globally and in particular its support to a green Gambia.