As the world commemorates International Women’s Day on March 8, The Gambia celebrates one of its most dedicated champions of girls’ empowerment: Mam Yassin Sarr, co-founder and Managing Director of Starfish International. A visionary educator, motivational speaker, poet, writer, and advocate, Sarr has transformed the lives of thousands of Gambian girls through holistic education, mentorship, and community-driven initiatives. Her journey—from witnessing poverty and patriarchy in her homeland to building a sustainable model of social change—embodies the resilience, compassion, and determination of Gambian women. On this day dedicated to honoring women’s achievements and calling for gender equality, Sarr’s story stands as a beacon of hope, proving that one woman’s commitment can ignite lasting progress for an entire generation and beyond.
Growing up in The Gambia amid widespread poverty, where many families survive on less than a dollar a day, Sarr saw firsthand the narrow paths available to young girls under patriarchal systems. “The path forward can feel narrow,” she reflects, but she also witnessed the transformative power of education. Her mother, one of the few girls in her village to attend high school, became a single parent after a divorce and used her education to secure work, provide for her children, and maintain independence. “Watching her navigate those struggles showed me the real value of even a basic education,” Sarr says. “It gave her choices, independence, and dignity.”
This early lesson planted a seed of determination in Sarr. By age eight, she was already contemplating ways to improve lives in her community. “Reflecting on my own life always led me back to the same conclusion: education is one of the most effective ways to confront inequality and injustice,” she explains. Her spiritual belief—that humanity is like a bird with two wings, male and female, and both must be strong for society to soar—further fueled her mission. In 2008, after completing college in the United States, Sarr returned to The Gambia with a clear purpose.
She began by listening. Conducting a needs assessment in her village, Sarr spoke with girls and women about their challenges: early family responsibilities, unequal access to education compared to brothers, teenage motherhood without financial independence, and silenced voices in communities. These honest conversations became the bedrock of Starfish International, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing humanity through girls’ education, empowerment, and community service. “Our philosophy is simple: girls are powerful agents of change,” Sarr states. “When they receive holistic education—one that is global, rooted in character development and transformative—they begin to recognize their own potential.”
Starfish started humbly, with classes under trees in villages like St. Peter’s, but has grown into a robust organization educating 300 girls each year. Sarr’s approach emphasizes reciprocity in philanthropy—giving with dignity and mutual respect—while partnering with The Gambia’s Ministry of Education to align programs with national standards. “We don’t just ‘give’ to the girls; we collaborate with them,” she explains. Girls are invited to shape programs and partnerships, ensuring they contribute to poverty reduction and community upliftment without feeling like “charity cases.” This model not only empowers individuals but also serves as a reference for Africa and beyond, adaptable to unique cultural contexts.
The transformations Sarr has witnessed over 15+ years are what sustain her. “The real success has always been seeing hope take form in real lives,” she says. Girls have started small businesses to fund their education, graduated in male-dominated fields, spoken out against injustice, and broken poverty cycles. One story stands out: Fatoumatta Jaiteh (Fatou Y), who joined Starfish at age 14. She progressed through the program, returned as a mentor after high school, pursued graduate studies abroad, and now serves as Executive Director. “Fatou Y’s success is a testament to the Starfish model—that girls are trained to own the work and lead the change,” Sarr beams. This ensures the organization’s sustainability, thriving even without the founders’ constant presence.
Sarr integrates her experiences as an educator—teaching multiculturalism, gender, race, class, and sexual orientation at institutions like Murray State University—into Starfish’s curriculum. Self-esteem programs build inner worth, teaching girls that their power is inherent and their value self-determined. “We raise our girls to understand that they are no less than anyone, and no better than anyone else,” she says. From this foundation, they gain confidence to protect themselves, challenge norms, and address issues like economic constraints and moral decay.
Another Starfish story is that of Madeline Kujabi. Madeline began her journey as a Starfish student at a young age. She joined the program shortly after it was established, as the first middle schooler in the organization, following her older sister Ellen’s footsteps.
” I’ve hardly met any student more conscious of their educational needs and what it takes to achieve them and thrive. Madeline advocated for herself to be accepted into the program for months before getting in, even going so far as to say she wanted to join even if the program didn’t pay her school fees. Like many of our students, Madeline’s family faced significant social and financial challenges. Through the program and a Starfish study abroad opportunity, she completed her high school education in the United States. She didn’t stop there; Madeline continued her academic journey by earning an undergraduate degree in Asian Studies, Languages & Civilizations, and later a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies, focusing on Sustainable Justice and Conflict Resolution.”
Madeline’s success is a testament to the Starfish model – that investing in a single girl radiates outward, far beyond her immediate family and community. While she has built a professional career in community engagement and nonprofit development in the United States, Madeline’s connection to The Gambia remains a cornerstone of her identity. She has consistently returned to The Gambia and to Starfish to serve whenever she’s had the chance. Her journey was paved by the giants at Starfish on whose shoulders she stood, and on the resilience of her mother, Isatou Mendy (Mama Kujabi), who was so moved by the transformation she saw in her daughters through Starfish that she founded the Starfish Skills Center to provide vocational training for other women.
Madeline’s transition from a young student finding her voice to a global professional dedicated to service embodies our goal of creating generations of women who carry the values of nobility, independence, and service into every space they enter and make every place they find themselves in better than they found it. Her story proves that when we provide a girl with the tools to succeed, she doesn’t just change her own life; she changes the trajectory of many in her entire community.
Integrity is central to Sarr’s vision. “We want to raise scientists who cure diseases, not create bombs; entrepreneurs who uplift their communities and practice justice,” she asserts. Emotional well-being is prioritized through programs like Heartlight, where mentors practice self-care and share struggles, and SistersCare, fostering peer support. “Our role is to nurture that belief by providing the education and tools they need to grow,” Sarr adds, approaching girls from abundance rather than deficit—valuing their resilience, intelligence, and creativity over material lacks.
Education, to Sarr, is the ultimate empowerment tool against systemic challenges like harmful practices and vulnerability. “When a girl gains both material and moral education, she develops the agency to navigate cultural pressures and make informed choices,” she explains. Starfish’s holistic model ensures girls see themselves as contributors, not recipients, equipped to learn, lead, and serve.
Guided by the principle “do what we can, where we are, with what we have,” Sarr’s Gambian heritage grounds her work. “It positions me to tune in to the heartbeat of my culture and change the narrative for the collective,” she says. She envisions Gambian women not just participating in development but leading it—shaping sustainable education and progress across Africa. At her core is a commitment to developing leaders: “I want to help people recognize their strengths, clarify their purpose, and access the tools to align what they do best with the needs of others.”
Balancing roles as educator, writer, advocate, and mother, Sarr’s journey reflects the quiet strength of Gambian women who “held families together” with limited resources. Her work at Starfish—providing scholarships, business startups, leadership training, and safe spaces—has uplifted countless lives, fostering intergenerational change.
As The Alkamba Times dedicates this Sunday edition to celebrating Gambian women, Mam Yassin Sarr exemplifies the profound impact of a vision rooted in service. Her legacy inspires a future where every Gambian girl soars, empowered to lead with integrity and compassion. On International Women’s Day, we honor her unwavering dedication—reminding us that true progress begins with investing in the potential of our girls. Sarr’s story is not just one of achievement; it’s a call to action for a more equitable Gambia and Africa, where women and girls are the architects of tomorrow.
