Starfish International,
The Gambia
About Starfish International
Mona Partner Since 2019
Founded in 2008, Starfish International’s mission provides advanced mentorship program to help young adolescent girls find their voices, work with young boys as their partners, and grow up to make a difference in their communities by identifying problems that surround them and doing what they can to solve those problems.
Starfish Business Skills Center, the program Mona supports, provides certification on four tracks to young girls to enable them to find their financial voice and intendance to equally contribute to the betterment of themselves, their families and communities. This program is now the focus of collaboration with the country's Ministry of Higher Education.
The Challenge
According to the United Nations Development Programme, The Gambia ranks 174th in poverty out of 187 countries worldwide with 60% of the population earning less than $1.90/day. 70% of Gambians are farmers and face hunger during the rainy season. The population is also young with 60% under the age of 25. Only 55% of the people are literate (lower for women).
The Solution: Starfish International Programs
Starfish Skills Center
Serving 100 young women ages 15–25, the Skills Center offers a 3-year certification program in four tracks (Sewing & shoemaking, hairstyling & make-up, catering, and crafts) to enable them to earn an income, lead a life of their own choosing, and contribute to the upliftment of their families and communities.
The Center was founded by Mama Kujabi, a strong, independent, and passionate woman. Her story is an inspiring one and another incredible example of a woman who has overcome tremendous obstacles to uplift her self, her family, and her community.a determined woman of her own making who, despite facing seemingly unsurmountable challenges all through her early life. Divorced, alone, and against all odds she raised three daughters by starting a small tailoring business to ensure they received the best possible education. One daughter is now a physician in The Gambia, another is in a Master's program in the US, and the third is finishing secondary school.
STARFISH PLEDGE
I am not the product of my circumstances. I am the composite of all the things that I believe and all the places I believe I can go. My past does not define me. I can step out of my history and create a new day for myself. Even if the entire culture is saying you can not. Even if every single possible bad thing that an happen to me does, I can keep going forward.
Advanced Mentoring Program
This program serves about 230 girls from neighboring public schools and supports their growth and development as individuals worthy of respect, dignity and agency through working with volunteer “mentors” who are all previous participants in the program. Each student commits to 7 hours of engagement per week focused on their areas of interest while developing capacities to contribute to the well-being of their own communities by holding literacy or health education classes. To date, Starfish has supported the education and empowerment of 1,000 students.
How we help
Mona Foundation has partnered with Starfish International since 2019. We primarily support the development of Starfish Skills Center, an integral part of the Starfish International organization.
The Skills Center is working to be financially self-sufficient by 2033. Through 2021 and 2022, with support from Mona Foundation, the Center expanded its infrastructure to nine rooms, including an income generating hairdressing salon, restaurant, and a large hall that can be rented out for special events.
2024 Achievements
- 200 girls and women trained in tailoring, hairdressing, arts and crafts, and hotel management
- 22 teachers trained
- 50 students completed internships

2025 Plans - $71,000
- Provide 100 scholarships
- Construct 6 AirBnBs designed to mirror the standards of real-world accommodations, providing students in the Hospitality and Housekeeping track with practical, hands-on experience and income generation for Starfish