Adama Makasuba

Story: This story was inspired by the experiences of Gambian migrants who risked their lives through the backway in search of opportunities in Europe but were unable to achieve their dream. Many of them returned home disappointed, while others tragically lost their lives along the way. Despite this reality, some of the returnees have shown resilience by rebuilding their lives and making positive contributions to their communities in The Gambia. The objective of my report was to highlight these inspiring stories of hope and determination. I wanted to demonstrate that even if one fails to reach Europe, there are still meaningful opportunities to succeed and make an impact within the country. By sharing their journeys, I hoped to shift the narrative and encourage young Gambians to recognize that migration is not the only option for a better life. For this story, I specifically travelled to Farato to meet with Buba Saidykhan, a returnee who has turned his life around after the challenges of the backway. I invested my own resources, spending money on transportation, phone calls, and extensive research, to ensure the story was accurate and well-documented. This effort was driven by my belief in the power of storytelling to inspire change.

Published in: October 23, 2025