"I had to educate the parents before I was allowed to educate the children!" 

Gassamingding is 24 and has been a volunteer since 2004. She was trained by Gambia Family Planning Association as a peer educator. Her work is important as young people can’t always get Sexual and Reproductive Health information from their families, so her work is much needed.

"I was selected by GFPA when I was a student, they saw I had the skills required to be a good PE: good communicator, openness to new ideas, approachable.

Being a volunteer is important and it was instilled in me from an early age – to  think about how you have benefited from the community therefore you must give something back. I don't do it for personal gain or satisfaction but to help society which has helped me.

I enjoy my work because I have learnt a lot and have improved skills such as public speaking and report writing, which have been useful for my studies as well. I think they will also help me be a better parent".

She faced opposition at first to her work, the parents of the young people didn’t like it and felt that  she was potentially spoiling the children. At first her own parents were unsure about her work but now they are very supportive, as are most of the parents in the neighbourhood, they can see the benefits of her work.

"I had to educate the parents before I was allowed to educate the children!"

She still goes to college, studying commercial management, but would like to keep up with her social work and always volunteer for GFPA.