Alieu Jallow

Story: This story follows the life of Awa Jobe, a widow in Sukuta, who is struggling to keep her family afloat after heavy rains wiped out her small evening trade. For years, Awa survived by selling “Cherreh”, a locally made food, to feed her seven children. It was never much, but it kept her family going. When the downpour destroyed all her goods, Awa was left with nothing to fall back on, no savings, no other source of income, and no safety net. Her story reflects the harsh reality faced by many widows in The Gambia who carry the burden of raising children alone, while being highly vulnerable to shocks they cannot control. Beyond Awa’s personal struggle, this story speaks to a wider issue: how poverty, gender, and climate-related disasters intersect to push families deeper into hardship. It asks whether enough is being done to protect women like Awa, whose resilience is tested daily as they fight to provide for their children against overwhelming odds.

Published in: October 28, 2025