Thinking of Gambia Posted by Post-Standard Editorial
Board<http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/about.html><http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/about.html>December
23, 2008 5:01AM

It doesn't look much like Gambia outside. But that West African nation is
front and center on the minds of more than one Central New Yorker.

MaNyima and Yassin Sarr, two Gambian sisters who came to the United States
to study and now live in Brewerton, dream of a new girls' school in their
homeland. Their goal is to raise at least $200,000 by 2013 -- and start
building.

They have a long way to go. But an architect has volunteered to design the
school, and others are lining up to donate labor. They have a nonprofit
foundation, Starfish International (visit www.starfishinternational.org to
find out more). They now are recruiting volunteers for a summer literacy
program back home.

And they are achieving their prime objective: Getting a good education.
MaNyima won a scholarship to Manlius Pebble Hill, where she is a sophomore.
Her older sister is working on her doctorate in education at Syracuse
University.

Educating girls and young women is one of the highest priorities for the
developing world. With any luck, Yassin and MaNyima will help lead the way.

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