Updated
August 24, 2005

Pateh Jawo
sadly failed to get the required grades to enter Gambia University

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Pateh's Diary

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Pateh's story is not unusual in its parts but is extraordinary in that all the problems have happened to him.

Pateh is a charming educated young man, he is literate very numerate and hard working and we hope that with GTS support he will realise all the potential that he was born with.

Although Pateh passed all the exams he took at the end of his university access course, he failed to obtain the standard of Credit in all subjects and not only faced having to do a resit but also needed to start a new access course in three sciences, all of which also needed to be passed with credits.

Pateh has now left the course and we last heard that he had found a job in the Kairaba Hotel.

The couple putting money towards a university place have asked that the money be used for another project and it will probably be held to support the first GTS student to get a university placement.



See University Access in left hand column.
GTS has been fortunate enough to find, not only sponsors for his University Palce but NOW his pre university access course. (March 2004)

The History
Pateh was unknown to May until around December 2000. May was visiting the Nusrat school to see another boy sponsored by one of May's contacts through her paper mill project.

The schools bursar mentioned Pateh to May and when we asked may to act as our co worker May already had him in mind.

I got an Email from May Rooney on 2nd Feb 2001

• 'Pateh Jawo' Good news!
  Yesterday we paid 935D for the rest of this years school fees (this includes book fees and uniform fees), for one 'Pateh Jawo' (the boy who has recently lost both his father and his uncle)
  
  Foday and I were both at the school and have copies of his reports testimonials, school fees receipt and a form with some info about the boy. the only thing missing is his picture.
  
  I'm so pleased we were able to help him, he is so determined to stay on at school despite the fact that all the odds are against it.
  He's such a respectful boy and asks for nothing.
  
  It was the school that put me in touch with him, as they were keen to keep him on.

From the provinces, Pateh was sent by his father to his uncle's compound because he had got such good grades that he was offered a place at Nusrat school where entry is strictly by results. After a year Pateh's father died and his uncle was tragically killed in a car accident on the way back from the funeral.

Pateh no longer had any financial support but was kept on by the bursar who payed Patehs fees for the term up to Christmas, rather than turn him away from the school.

With no accomodation anymore, Pateh was staying in a very unsuitable room, which was broken into twice, resulting in the loss of all of his possesions. It was through Pateh's experience that May and I decided to set up a safe house for young people like Pateh we are hoping to be given a small piece of land to start the building in 2002.

In the mean time, May is having him to stay at her compound, where he will act as a helper, in return for his board and lodgings.
In August Pateh was away for his summer holiday working with friends up river, I will see pateh in November but May is very happy with his progress.

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