Sunrise

 teachers

  Ali Bah

  Fatou Cham

  Fatou Sanneh

 Joanna Mendy

  Kaddy Jawara

  Saihou Darboe

Joanna Mendy

Specialist in Sewing and Cookery

Joanna is our Senior skills teacher who teaches both theory and practical work to the young people in Sunrise. The skills of Sewing and Cookery are very important in The Gambia to people looking for employment in the many local tailoring shops and of course throughout the very important tourism industry.  She also helps  Sunrise by standing in for our Education Director in his absence, helping the other teachers run assemblies and other school functions.

 Joanna has previously worked at many schools in The Gambia over her long career including:- St Peter’s Primary in Lamin (1972) as a Home Economics Teacher for 2 years, Campama Primary in Banjul then Wesley Primary, Sukuta Primary, St Charles Lwanda, Fajikunda and St Therese’s Primary at Kanifing. She moved into Skills Training at St Therese’s Vocational School, then went to Presentation Girls in 1998. Joanna moved to the Bakoteh Community Centre School (now Sunrise) in 2008 and worked there on and off, as funding allowed, then permanently after GETS took over the centre.

Joanna found time to have a break to have a family, getting married in 1976 to husband, Felix. She has 5 children - 2 girls, Elizabeth and Mansetta and 3 boys, Joseph, James and John. All, including Felix, initially Christians. Mansatta converted to marry a Muslim. Joanna’s family live near to the Sunrise Centre in Bakoteh. Her husband's father is from Guinea Bissau and Joanna’s father is from Banjul, all are Wolofs. Joanna's mother is from Senegal and reported to be related to the founder of Serekunda, Sayer Jobe.

Joanna travelled twice to the UK as a tourist, staying with her daughter (Elizabeth), when her husband  was doing a 3 year course, whilst working for GAMTEL. Firstly in 2005, beginning in a cold February for 6 months, staying in Newcross and Deptford, Nr London. Then in September 2008, again for 6 months (in Newcross and then in Nottingham). She had to return early due her husband’s illness. Sadly Felix died quite soon after her return.

The skill students tie and dye the material then cut out and sew all the Sunrise uniforms under Joanna's watchful eye.

Treadle sewing machines are mainly used due to the uncertain electric supply but Tools with a Mission in the UK gave GETS two electric machines and we were able to send them to Gambia in a container.

On the right, Joanna is showing two of the skills students how to use one of these machines.

Joanna with some of the items made by students

Joanna has two assistants, Bubacarr who helps with sewing and is very good at mending the treadle sewing machines when there is a problem and Amie who helps with cookery and preparing the mid-morning snack for all at Sunrise. 

Most of the cooking is done outside
on stoves like this