Youth OF
With Isatou Sarr
A 26-year-old Gambian tailor has risen from an unpaid apprenticeship to owning his own business, illustrating how perseverance and hard work can overcome severe socio-economic challenges.
Sainey Susso, a native of Gidda Forest in the West Coast Region, began learning tailoring at the age of 15 while still attending school. He combined his studies with daily work at a tailoring workshop in Brikama, often walking long distances between home, work, and school.
Financial hardship later forced him to drop out of school after Grade 9, as family responsibilities mounted. Despite spending several years as an unpaid apprentice, Susso remained committed to mastering the trade, earning small sums only when allowed to repair or showcase customers’ clothing.
By 2021, he had acquired sufficient skills to work independently, managing customers while sharing space in a friend’s workshop. However, irregular income, seasonal challenges, and family obligations continued to pose difficulties.
In 2022, Susso opened his own tailoring shop at Brikama Market. He now employs apprentices and supports his immediate and extended family, including his wife, children, and younger siblings. To stabilize his income, he has also taken on short-term jobs during slower business periods.
Susso attributes his progress to persistence and faith, noting that determination enabled him to endure years of hardship. His journey highlights the role of youth entrepreneurship in promoting self-reliance and economic empowerment in The Gambia, particularly among young people facing limited educational and employment opportunities.
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Youth OF With Isatou Sarr A 26-year-old Gambian tailor has risen from an unpaid apprenticeship to owning his own business,…
The post Gambian Tailor Rises from Apprenticeship to Business Ownership appeared first on .
