Group Photo Of The Graduates
By Ramatoulie Jawo
Starfish International celebrated the graduation of its 5th Leadership Academy cohort over the weekend at its Lamin Daranka premises, recognizing the achievements of 24 graduates from diverse programs.
This milestone event marked a moment of pride for Starfish International as they honored the accomplishments of these exceptional students who have completed a transformative leadership journey.
According to the organization’s officials, the Leadership Academy has spent the past five years nurturing young leaders by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and servant leadership qualities necessary to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mam Yassin Sarr, founder of Starfish International, underscored the importance of educating communities, particularly children, to make informed decisions and support worthy leaders.
She explained that the program goes beyond theoretical knowledge, encouraging students to actively engage with their communities as servant leaders.
“So when it comes to titles, when they went into these communities, the women they were working with did not care about what degrees these young people have or want to have. When these young people wanted the women to come here to work with them, they had to go to the women’s homes and help them wash their dishes so that the women could make it here. When they came (women) and we were teaching them how to make soap, and how to do everything, bake cakes, they actually had to do the work, so these students were the ones also mixing the cakes. When it came to composting and taking rubbish and using it for a better purpose, these young people had to roll up their sleeves, get in the compost pit take a spade, and do the work,” she said.
She emphasized that when they spoke of servants, they truly meant servants. She further stressed that the future of this country and the world rests on each individual’s ability to recognize the unique qualities that God has given them and use those gifts to serve humanity, as that is the true purpose of the class.
She elaborated on their focus on health, education, and agriculture, as they seek to find ways to support their community, even without advanced machines or the latest technology, ensuring their people are on a path to healthier lives.
“And young people are the best people to lead that change because, hopefully, they will be here longer to see its sustainability. So at the end of January this community should be able to come to this land and get some health screening, get a little bit of medication, but most importantly get deep education on how to prevent diseases and protect themselves and their community,” she noted.
Hon. Gibbi Mballow, the National Assembly Member for the Lower Fulladu Constituency and a proud alumnus of Starfish International reflected on his transformative journey with the organization. He admitted that before joining Starfish, his understanding of leadership was limited. However, one key lesson he gained was the importance of being ready to serve his country, his people, and the world at large.
“And I have to stand firm and strong to be true, to live by it and work by it. And Aunty Man Yassin and Starfish will not leave you alone when they give you knowledge, they want to see how far are you going to implement that knowledge. You, graduates, have shown remarkable commitment, particularly in the area of sustainability, where your efforts truly stand out,” he said.
He highlighted that his time at Starfish taught him the importance of being a good listener and helped him develop resilience in standing up for what is right, regardless of others’ opinions. He further emphasized that it is their collective responsibility to be exemplary leaders and to effectively apply the knowledge they have gained from Starfish.
Fatoumatta Ceesay, the Strategic Communications Specialist at the American Embassy, served as the guest speaker at the event. She commended the graduates for their hard work and dedication while encouraging them to embody the change they aspire to see in the world.
“Over the past five years, based on what I learned, the leadership academy has dedicated itself to equipping these aspiring leaders and many more with the critical tools, knowledge, and servant leadership qualities necessary for creating action. We all know we face a lot of challenges and then coming here and being equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to go out in your communities, not only in your communities but out to your family members and the country at large to tackle those issues is something worth commendable, and then we thank the starfish team for putting that forward,” she said.
Each class showcased their learning and creativity through dramas, songs, dances, and handmade items.
During the ceremony, each graduate received an International Diploma accredited by the National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina), Global Health and Wellbeing (United States), and Starfish International (The Gambia). These diplomas symbolize the global and holistic education the students have experienced.