Alhagie has been a part of Ascend since the beginning six years ago. He has served in many different roles over the years and now plays an integral role as the program coordinator.
He became interested in basketball watching NBA games at a local television club. From there, he became involved with training to become a referee for the games of the burgeoning Gambia Basketball Association. This is where he met Seth, a founder of Ascend together. Years later, Alhagie accepted an offer to be involved with the development of the Ascend organization to share his love of the game with Gambia youth. As program coordinator, he takes the lead on organizing the coaches, students, and tutoring. He constantly fills in gaps and is immeasurably flexible. For example, when tutoring was at a standstill due to teacher strikes, he volunteered his time to fill in as temporary tutor so the Ascend mission could continue.
Alhagie officiating a basketball game for the Gambian Basketball Association.
I asked Alhagie to reflect on his time with Ascend and was humbled by his response. He said that Ascend “has transformed my life”. He didn’t have a lot of responsibility before and the jobs he has had as a tutor, coach, and now program coordinator have helped him grow as a leader. Now, he knows how to work with people and is “grateful now that I am a very good listener.” In an effort to develop work ethic, responsibility, and perseverance in the students of Ascend, Alhagie has come to embody these traits.
Alhagie works with Ascends students on the court and in the classroom
He hopes that Ascend can become a household name in the country. Currently, basketball is only popular in the urban areas of Gambia, Alhajie’s dream is that the sport becomes accessible to all regions so that both youth and adults can benefit from the growth and opportunity that basketball has provided for him.
The mission of Ascend is multifold. In the forefront, the mission is focused on youth. Gambian youth need a realistic alternative to the pressures of fleeing the country in order to support their families. Ascend provides support for students to excel in school so they have an opportunity for employment within the country. Ascend seeks to give students a sense of community through basketball. In the background, these goals of Ascend come to fruition in employees like Alhagie. He is employed in-country, building community for himself and others. Through his work, his family, students, and community members are empowered to Ascend Together.