Anna is a third-year tailoring and design student at the Starfish International Skills Center in The Gambia, a Mona partner since 2019.  Her father struggled with ongoing mental health challenges and so the responsibility of supporting the family fell squarely on her mother’s shoulders. Growing up, Anna witnessed her mother’s extraordinary sacrifice and perseverance as she worked as cook, house help, and laundress to provide for Anna and her siblings. Her mother’s unwavering determination in the face of hardship became Anna’s greatest inspiration.​

Anna’s journey at Starfish International began at a crucial point in her life. Unable to afford secondary education, she enrolled in the Skills Center training program on a Mona scholarship as a means to create opportunities for herself and her family. Over three years, Anna transformed from a novice seamstress to a confident tailor, capable of designing and sewing complete outfits on her own. With her newfound skills, Anna started a small tailoring business, taking on contracts that enable her to contribute financially to her family and ease the burden on her mother. "The Starfish Skills Center has given me more than just a trade," Anna shares. "It has given me the confidence to believe in myself, the tools to support my family, and the hope to dream bigger than I ever thought possible."​

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As she approaches graduation, Anna’s dream is clear: to establish her own tailoring workshop and create a hub for empowering other young women. Her vision includes training and employing aspiring designers, offering them the same opportunities that transformed her life.​

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Anna's journey is one of perseverance, faith, and hope in the face of adversity, and a commitment to building a brighter future for herself and her family.​  She credits her mother's sacrificial support, her teachers unwavering belief in her abilities, and Mona Foundation's generous support for making it possible to pursue her dreams.