Nine-Year-Old Burn Survivor Launches National Foundation To Aid Victims

By: Rohey Samba

In a powerful display of resilience, a nine-year-old burn survivor, Sira, has launched a new organization in The Gambia aimed at supporting fellow burn victims. The Sira Burn Foundation was officially launched on Sunday under the inspiring theme: “A survivor is not a disability but a strength.”

The initiative comes as a direct response to the long-term physical and psychological challenges faced by victims, which include scarring, limited mobility, and psychological issues like depression and anxiety.

Sira, who suffered severe burns at the age of five, shared her personal journey, explaining how the trauma sparked the idea for the foundation.

“I am a young girl full of dreams and hopes, but my life suddenly changed after I had scars on my skin,” Sira said at the launch. “I have done five surgeries so far and still have the defects of burn victims. This is a painful experience that I went through as a victim of burn and survivor.”

Sira’s mother, Awa Cham, recounted the terrifying accident and the subsequent emotional toll. Sira was burned when she accidentally knocked over a frying pan of hot oil.

“Sira was rushed to the hospital, where we spent one month, which was not enough, but we had to go abroad. Sira went through surgery three times,” Awa explained.

More painful than the physical injury was the constant public scrutiny. Awa shared her daughter’s heartbreaking observations after she returned from school: “Mum, why are people always looking at me? Even the vendors, when I pass, stop selling and looking at me. Even in class, instead of students concentrating and learn, they will always concentrate on me.”

Addressing Sira and the attendees, Fatou Dally Bittaye, a representative from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), offered words of encouragement and pledged the Ministry’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment.

“Sira, don’t worry, we are all the same at the roots but different at the branches,” Bittaye stated. “These differences are what make us unique and valuable. It’s our collective responsibility to embrace this difference and create an inclusive environment where every child like you has the opportunity to strive. Our Ministry has taken critical steps to address these issues, and everyone needs to know that we all have equal rights in society.”

The Sira Burn Foundation aims to provide a helping hand to burn victims across The Gambia, turning a painful personal experience into a source of national strength and advocacy.

The post Nine-Year-Old Burn Survivor Launches National Foundation To Aid Victims appeared first on .

 By: Rohey Samba In a powerful display of resilience, a nine-year-old burn survivor, Sira, has launched a new organization in…
The post Nine-Year-Old Burn Survivor Launches National Foundation To Aid Victims appeared first on .