International Women’s Day: Celebrating the Women Who Shape Our School

Today is International Women’s Day, and at BFiG Busumbala Nursery School it is the perfect moment to celebrate the remarkable women who make our school such a warm, vibrant and inspiring place for children to learn.

Behind every successful school are dedicated teachers and carers. At Busumbala, three women play an absolutely vital role in the daily life of the school: Teacher Mariama Fatty, Teacher Mariama Jaiteh, and our wonderful school nanny – also known as Mero.

Together, they represent something incredibly powerful: the belief that education can transform lives.

The Teachers at the Heart of the School

When the school first opened its doors in October 2023, Mariama Fatty was the only teacher. With patience, creativity and determination, she built the foundations of the classroom culture that children now enjoy every day. In this video, made during her first year, Mariama talks about herself and the importance of education.

As the school grew, Mariama (Aja) Jaiteh joined the team as a second teacher. With more children arriving at the school, the classroom has become an even livelier place – filled with songs, early reading activities, counting games and storytelling.

Together, the two Mariamas create an environment where young children feel safe, confident and curious. In nursery education, this early foundation is everything. The habits formed here – listening, speaking, sharing, exploring and learning – shape how children approach school for years to come.

And for the girls in our classrooms, seeing female teachers leading the learning sends an important message: education belongs to them too.

The Quiet Hero of the School – Mero

Every school has someone who keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

At Busumbala, that person is Mero, our school nanny.

She helps prepare the classrooms, supports the children throughout the day, keeps the environment clean and welcoming, and provides the kind of everyday care that young children need. Anyone who has visited the school knows that the youngest pupils often gather around her with huge smiles.

In a nursery school, care and learning go hand in hand. Mero helps make the school feel like a safe and happy place for every child.

And now, Mero also tends our school garden. Her role is extremely important.

Why Early Education Matters for Girls

Around the world, education has opened doors for millions of girls — but challenges still remain.

In The Gambia, access to education has improved significantly in recent decades, with boys and girls now enrolling in primary school in roughly equal numbers. However, the journey through education is still not easy for many children, particularly in rural areas where poverty and distance from schools can create barriers.

There are still large differences in literacy too. Recent figures suggest that literacy among Gambian adults is significantly higher for men than for women, highlighting why early education opportunities remain so important.

This is why nursery education matters so much.

A strong start in the early years gives children confidence, language skills and curiosity — all the things they need to succeed when they move on to primary school.

And when girls begin their education early, the impact can last a lifetime.

“I Want to Be a Doctor”

One of the most inspiring moments at the school came when a young girl (one of our first pupils) — now happily settled into primary school — told us about her dream.

With a huge smile, she told us that she wants to be a Dokitaroo – the Mandinka word for Doctor. Here’s the video of that actual moment.

She still comes back to visit the nursery sometimes. I met her again during my January 2026 visit. It warms my heart to know that, even in our early days, our ex-pupils have started to come back and visit. It demonstrates how important our school was – and still is – for them.

Moments like this remind us why the school exists.

Somewhere among the children currently learning their alphabet, counting mangoes, or singing songs in the classroom may be the next teacher, nurse, engineer… or doctor.

The Women Helping Build the Future

At BFiG Busumbala Nursery School, the women working at the school are not just educators or carers.

They are role models.

Every day, Mariama Fatty, Mariama Jaiteh and Mero show children what dedication, kindness and hard work look like in practice.

And on International Women’s Day, we celebrate them — and the future they are helping to build for every child who walks through the school gate.

Because when girls are given the chance to learn, grow and dream…anything becomes possible.

And who knows? One day, that little girl who once stood in our classroom and told us that she wants to be a doctor may be saving lives somewhere in The Gambia. 🌍