Isatou Ceesay

Story: At just 14 years old, Mariama (Not her real name) should be sitting in a classroom, her mind on books and dreams of the future. Instead, every morning finds her at Westfield, balancing a tray of bananas on her head, standing by the roadside and calling out to passersby. Mariama didn’t choose this life. She lost her father early last year, and not long after, her mother became crippled. With no one else to turn to, the weight of caring for her sick mother and younger brother now rests on her small shoulders. Selling bananas is not a passion, it’s a necessity. “I would have loved to be in school,” she said softly, her words heavy with a pain no child should carry. “But life has given me no choice.” Her story is not just hers alone. It is the story of countless children in The Gambia who are forced into adulthood before their time, robbed of their right to education and the innocence of childhood. When poverty, death, or disability strike, children like Mariama become breadwinners, sacrificing their futures so their families can survive. To show how widespread the problem is, I also spoke to a widow facing similar struggles, juggling the care of her children with the harsh reality of survival. Together, their voices echo the silent cries of many households across the country. This is not only a human interest story; it is a mirror reflecting the cracks in our society. It sheds light on child labor as a painful reality, but also as a call to action. Mariama’s dream of returning to school should not be just a dream, it should be a promise fulfilled by a society that claims to value its children. At its core, this story is a plea: for stronger child protection systems, for social safety nets that shield families in crisis, and for a collective responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind. Mariama’s bananas may feed her family today, but her education could change their tomorrow.

Published in: October 15, 2025