Summer Holidays: School Children in Farafenni plough Farmlands for Cash

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Fatima Gassama and her team

The rainy season in The Gambia coincides with the closure of schools for summer holidays. After students complete their Grade 6, GABECE, and WASSCE examinations, schools close for the summer break. Some children attend summer classes offered by their schools, while others use this time to visit family and relatives in different regions of The Gambia. Many children, however, choose to stay home and help with various tasks.

In Farafenni, Fatima Kassama leads a team of more than five children under the age of 18 who work as hired farmers, assisting women in ploughing their farmlands for pay.

This medium met Fatima and her team on Sunday, July 21, 2024, during a visit to a women's farm in the North Bank Region of Farafenni.

Fatima explained that since schools are closed, they do not want to remain idle at home. During the rainy season, they organise themselves into teams to work on farms belonging to women who struggle to bend down or are occupied with other farming activities. They charge the women D200 per square meter, and so far, they have seen progress as more women have begun requesting their services.

Fatima noted that most of her team members are under 18 years old, and while many attend primary schools, two of them attend upper basic schools in Farafenni.

"We work for the women who are our mothers, aunts, and grandmothers, and they pay us. We use the money to take care of ourselves and our needs, and we buy things that our parents might not be able to provide for us,” she said.

Banna Marong, one of the women farmers, praised the children for their hard work and dedication. She mentioned that they arrive very early in the morning and complete their tasks efficiently. Despite the high fees of D200 that they charge, she believes they excel in their work.

"Old age has caught up with us, making it difficult to perform certain farming activities that require bending down. We are greatly helped by the kids, and we are grateful for their assistance," Banna said.

For the children, this is a serious opportunity. They smiled widely while explaining their work to the media, and by the end of the holidays, they expect to have enough money to buy new bags, uniforms, shoes, and stationery, ensuring they can start the upcoming academic year with pride.

Author: Halimatou Ceesay

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