Kumba Daffeh – Kah President Tresor Women Warriors
By Landing Ceesay
Founded five years ago with a mission to uplift Gambian women from poverty and empower them across all aspects of life, Tresor Women Warriors is celebrating a significant milestone: its fifth anniversary.
This is a story of resilience, dedication, and the unwavering spirit of Gambian women who are changing their own destinies and inspiring others to do the same.
Over the past half-decade, Tresor Women Warriors has been a catalyst for positive change, wholeheartedly devoted to empowering women across multiple spheres. The organization actively engages in Enterprise Development, Networking, Mentorship, and Advocacy for Sustainability.
Since its inception, Tresor Women Warriors has successfully empowered over 7,000 women in diverse fields, ranging from agriculture to business entrepreneurship.
During the fifth-anniversary celebration, Mrs. Aji Kumba Daffeh Kah, the Founder and President of Tresor Women Warriors, reflected on the organization’s achievements. She proudly announced the financial liberation of numerous women who, from having almost nothing, now travel across the country with substantial funds in their accounts.
“We have actually taken the step to be financially free. We are doing it. Women who did not have D10 in their pockets then, they are going across the country to Lumos, and they have over a hundred thousand dalasis in their accounts today. Tresor Women have done it.”
She highlighted the organization’s unique approach, with all members having bank accounts and engaging in regular savings and profit-sharing every six months, akin to practices in major corporations globally.
“All these women you see here have Bank accounts, all of us. We save every month and every 6 months we do profit sharing. What big companies are doing, that’s what these women warriors are doing every 6 months,” Mrs. Daffeh-Kah told the gathering.”
Mrs. Daffeh-Kah revealed the success of Tresor Women Warriors’ microfinance initiatives, including a Visaca in Mamudu Fanna Village, which has grown from an initial investment of D1.5 million to a current worth of D10 million. The ambitious plan includes establishing a women’s bank in The Gambia within the next five to ten years
“We also have microfinance, we have a Visaca in Mamudu Fanna Village, and we started it 3 years ago. We actually piloted D1.5 million in that Bank, and today we are worth D10 million. We are projecting that in the next five to ten years to come we want to open our own women Bank in the Gambia. The work we are doing today will enable us to do that tomorrow,” she lamented. Addressing the challenges faced by Gambian women, Mrs. Daffeh-Kah emphasized the difficulty in accessing land. Tresor Women Warriors has actively addressed this issue by acquiring and distributing land to women for cultivation and other ventures.
“Whatever women are into, everyone should join and help them, no matter how difficult it might be. For women to have access to land is a problem in this country. Women in this country don’t inherit land from their parents. Their brothers from the same mothers and fathers are the ones who inherit everything. A woman will need land and her brother will sell that land and the woman will not have land. Even if women want to farm, they cannot because there is no land available for them. Tresor Women Warriors bought a lot of land and gave it to the women to work,” she stated. The celebration was attended by esteemed guests, including the First Lady, Her Excellency Fatou Bah Barrow, and Her Excellency Sarjo Mballow Barrow, the President’s wives. Also, present were the Vice President’s wife and the wives of State Ministers. Hon. Claudiana A. Cole, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, represented President Adama Barrow and emphasized the President’s commitment to women’s empowerment.
Testimonials from recipients of support showcased the organization’s positive impact on business growth. In recognition of its fifth anniversary, Tresor Women Warriors acknowledged steadfast supporters, including notable contributor Binta Mbakutu Conteh, a Gambian businesswoman residing in Atlanta, United States. In an interview, Conteh stressed the importance of empowering women.
With a network of over 7,000 women nationwide, Tresor Women Warriors continues to thrive, fostering collective initiatives and mentorship programs that empower women across diverse fields.