A young man’s dream has evolved into a successful business empire in the quiet town of Basse, located in the Upper River Region. His name is Papa E Sawaneh, and his entrepreneurial journey is marked by persistence, skill, and determination.
Born and raised in Basse, Papa graduated from Nasir Senior Secondary School in 2008. Eager to learn practical trades, he pursued carpentry and joinery at The Gambia Technical Training Institute (now known as USET), where he earned his certifications. However, Papa’s story goes beyond furniture making; it is about seizing opportunities and creating life-changing possibilities for his community.
After his studies, he became a woodwork teacher at Essau Senior Secondary School in the North Bank Region in 2013. His passion for teaching and community service led him to return to Basse, where he continued his teaching career at St. George’s Technical Junior Secondary School and later became Head of the Carpentry Department at Chigambas Skills Training Institute.
But Papa was not content to just teach—he envisioned something more significant. During his teaching career, he recognized a gap in the event decoration industry in his region. Inspired by his journey, he founded SMART HIGH DECORATION, adding to his carpentry workshop and quickly becoming a leading event decoration provider in the Upper River Region.
“I was motivated by how our people hire decorators from the Greater Banjul Areas and Senegal to provide them with the service. They will be paid a high amount, which is expensive for them, especially the underprivileged people. So to reduce that burden, I decided to start something like this because everyone almost needs this nowadays,” Papa shared.
Starting with little more than his siblings’ support and a burning desire to succeed, Papa faced numerous challenges. Early on, his business handled only one event per day, but through grit and perseverance, it now manages over two events daily. The business has expanded beyond Basse and now covers 75% of the region, by far extending across the border into Senegal.
“Transportation has been one of our major challenges. Moving from our base to some event venues has been challenging, especially in remote areas. The other challenge is the number of chairs and tents because of the high demand,” he sighted.
SMART HIGH DECORATION specializes in a variety of services—from weddings to seminars, birthday celebrations, and conferences—adding color and life to every event. One of their standout services is flower arrangements, a hallmark of their event decorations. The team leaves guests in awe of the beauty and elegance they bring to life.
“As a carpenter by profession, that helps me to be innovative and creative in starting the decoration company. I started it with the placement of flower verses. This was how everything started until I could do big decorations now,” young Papa recounted.
Through SMART HIGH, Papa is not just an entrepreneur but a job creator. The company employs eight young people and helps reduce the effects of irregular migration by providing employment opportunities within the community. Papa is determined to continue his growth.
“I have a vision to transform SMART HIGH into a company that will employ no fewer than 50 young people in the coming years. I am open to sharing. The business made me an independent person while creating employment for others under me,” he said.
Papa’s journey proves that no dream is too big and any challenge can be overcome with the right skills, determination, and a bit of creativity. His story inspires other young people in The Gambia and beyond, proving that success comes from the courage to take risks, work hard, and give back to the community.
