Bintou is a testament to the goals of our programming with Ascend Together. Our mission is to be a place for Gambian youth to grow. It is intentionally vague because we want that growth to take whatever form suits each student best. We are passionate about growing the capacity of Gambian youth to successfully grow up, live in Gambia, and give back to their communities. Bintou is doing just that.
Bintou was one of the first students to join Ascend together back in 2015 at our St. Theresa site. She grew up to be accomplished in the Gambia Basketball Association - she first played in the YMCA league and now plays for the Kotu Blue Ninjas. She has won many awards and has represented Gambia on the court throughout Africa and in Europe.
Even though Bintou is shy off the court, she is an accomplished public speaker. She is passionate about women's rights and the importance of education. She is leading by example through furthering her own education. She already holds a masters degree in hospitality and tourism and is pursuing another degree in the field of education.
Our program manager says the Ascend students view Bintou as an older sister. She is approachable, open minded, and disciplined. We are lucky to have Bintou with us as Assistant Coach. It is humbling to consider the role Ascend Together has played in Bintou’s life and we are grateful that she has come back to continue her support of our community in this role.
