Amy met Mamat on the beach with his friend Alagie, who is sponsored by Amy's mother.

Both of Mamat's parents are alive but they are living at poverty level. His parents came from Senegal and settled in the Gambia where the children were born. They live in Sanchaba village and the sponsor gives the family a bag of rice every term. The family mainly supports itself through the father, he has a donkey and a cart and people pay him to carry goods for them. His mother is not able to contribute to the upkeep of the family as she is a housewife.

Mamat has joined school very late because the family could not afford his education until 2002 when the Dallimore family came to the Gambia for their first holiday and met the boys. As he started so late, he is the oldest student in the school. He started at Grade 3 but jumped straight into Grade 6 due to his maturity and performance.

According to the class teacher, he has been doing well and is a hard working student. Mamat sat his Grade 6 examination and will be moving to Grade 7 in September 2005.

He enjoys football, reading and helping his father.