Women Web Encounter: Bridging the Digital Gap.



About Me:
My is Fatoumatta Saho, I am 23 years old born and living in the Gambia, West Africa. I am a Media practioner, is a Social Justice activist and a Generation Changer under US state Department Gambia. I am an aspiring Social Entrepreneur currently Pursuing a degree in Political science and International Studies in the University of the Gambia. I previously studied Gender and Development at the Management Development Institute (MDI) where I critically explored the contending perspectives of Women empowerment and its implications in Socio Economic Development particularly in the Gambia.



I currently work with Child fund The Gambia as a GIK (Goods In Kind) Officer under the Department of Projects. Formerly CCF (Christian Children Fund), Child fund is an International NGO with its Head quarters In UK, Working to support the poor and the less privilege through Scholarship, Capacity Building, Youth Empowerment, entrepreneurship and skill training.



Apart from my Normal job, I am a youth Activist actively involve with youth organisations for positive social change.
I am the the Current Gender Director of the Social Science and Humanity students Association (SOSSHA), University the Gambia, The Secretary General of Food First Project) and the IPRO (Information and Public Relations Officer) Of GLOBAL HANDS GAMBIA (www.globalhands.gm).



I equally Moderate(Co-Host) a weekly Radio Talk show Called Uniplatform(www.uniquefm.gm) The show offers University Students the Platform to discuss Academic and extrcuricular issues in the university of the Gambia.The show also offers a platform for young people to critically assess socio econmic development in the Gambia.



One of my favoureite quotes are " Charity Begins at Home, Be the change you want"



more on My organisations please visit Facebook( Global Hands Gambia) (Project Food First) and (Uniplatform Radio Talk Show.



The Web has literary bind the world as a family in an unprecedented manner. My personal encounter with the Web offers a significant story that can inspire many young women. I made family, friends and Partners through the Internet. I am grateful for the opportunity that the digital world has accorded me. Here is how everything started. I am from a remote village in the West coast region of the Gambia, called Busumbala. My family moved there in 2003 when i was in Junior school. Busumballa is one of the oldest settlements in the Western part of the Gambia with a rich history in royal dynasty and traditional rulers. At my community life seem challenging than ever. There is lack of pipe borne Water, Electricity and any other form of social Amenity due to its proximity to the highway. I struggle to make it to school every early morning by waking up at around 6am.I use to study with a candle and sometimes i sleep off leaving the candle burning, Thanks to my Mum who always check on my room to make sure that the candle is off. I scale through the academic ladder struggling to study with Candle light, helping to take care of a sick Father and treking by foot for hours before i get to school. In 2008, while In grade 11, i got my first Mobile phone. I use it to create my Facebook acount and am using to date. Currently, i have over 1500 friends from around the world. I network with some, chat with some, share ideas and still learn from others. I am currently serving as the Secretary General of a Gambian base social entreprise called Project food first. The project was formed in 1997 empowering rural women on horticulture and skills development. I made such connection through the Internet with the Coordinator of the project who is also a Gambian. We currently have 100 sets of computers in store meant for schools and skills training centers in the Gambia in order to boost technology and bridge the digital Gap between men and women. I want to strengten the project by networking and searching for potential donors and partners to help fund more of our pragrams. The programs will help to train rural women on basic computer skills and other digital devices like moblie phones and Television sets. It will thrill you to know that some women don t even know how to operate a TV.



With my digital encounter, I easily access Information on the internet and am better inform than those girls who havent get access to the internet. I read health tips, Current issues, Global issues, Google infromations,do research , Network and socialization. It has help to shape my world view and equally empower me to stand for others as well.
WOMEN WEB ENCOUNTER can offer them a lifetime opportunity which can inspire many women and girls in order to brigde the digital gap.



My Passions:
Education, Volunteering and Activism



My Vision for the Future:
A more Developed and interconnected world with highly Educated and Open minded people.



My Areas of Expertise:
Public speaking, Analytical skills, Policy Analysis, Networking and Monitoring an evaluation.

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