We are one month into year ten at Ascend Together—one decade. A milestone I hoped for but wasn’t sure we’d reach. Early on, there were many moments when I thought this project might come to an end. Whether it was funding drying up, lack of student interest, leadership changes, Covid-19, or just sheer fatigue, I was never certain how long we could keep going. Yet, here we are, ten years later—not just surviving, but thriving. How did we get here? What makes Ascend special? Where are we headed?
We’re here because of a shared vision between the board of directors and our team on the ground in The Gambia. Disagreements, concerns, and emotions have crossed the Atlantic, but our anchor has always been our shared desire to see the youth of The Gambia spread their wings and fly. Development work is hard. Funding is inconsistent, especially for an organization of our scale and niche mission. Promises have been made and broken. Deadlines missed. Salaries have been a source of frustration. Communication has broken down. Life hardships have arisen. And yet, amidst all these challenges, our team of Gambian employees deeply care. They care about the students we work with. They care about the mission. And most importantly, they care about each other. Year after year, they show up with enthusiasm and purpose, and that is why our organization thrives.
A quick shout-out to our donors: We are a decade in because of your unwavering support. Whether through the Chicago concert, t-shirt sales, sponsorships, or even those early days on GoFundMe, you’ve believed in our cause, year after year. Our gratitude starts with you.
What makes Ascend special is the quality of people who work and volunteer their time. In particular, it’s the leadership on the ground in The Gambia. From the managers to the assistants, from the tutors to the ambitious alumni, this organization runs on collective leadership. My original goal for Ascend Together was for the organization to be led and run by Gambians. Reflecting on my time in development, I realized many projects fail because leadership comes from overseas rather than from within the community. How can you build something sustainable if the decisions aren’t being made by the people you claim to serve? I wanted the architects of Ascend to be Gambians.
Under the stewardship of Alhagie Manjang and his team—Kebba, Bintou, Mrs. Clara, Mr. Jarju, and Abdou—we’ve watched the programs blossom into what they are today. What started as an afterschool program has grown into something much bigger. Ascend is now a place where students receive basketball training and academic tutoring, but it’s also where they engage in discussions, volunteer, plan, organize, and build lasting friendships. It’s become a true community—a youth community. And I don’t use this word lightly. “Community” has become a buzzword in development, but I wouldn’t use it here if I hadn’t witnessed it firsthand. When I visited The Gambia this spring, I was moved to tears watching the day’s sessions unfold. I was surrounded by kids who truly wanted to be there—hugging, laughing, supporting each other, seeking advice and comfort from our coaches and from one another. Real camaraderie. It had become so much bigger than I’d ever dreamed. What I witnessed had come from the collective dreaming and hard work of Alhagie and his team.
Where are we headed? The short answer: wherever our team’s dreams take us. I trust their values and know we share this mission. But their vision isn’t a small one. Ideally, I’d love to keep the organization small and continue raising what we’re proven capable of raising—keep it comfortable. But Alhagie and his team want to work with high schoolers and elementary students. They want to expand into rural areas, serving students from upcountry. They want to offer one more field trip per year. One more tournament.
So, what’s next? Hopefully, we’ll be able to help bring this dream to life. Our team on the ground has a clear vision, and now it’s up to us—the board and you, our donors—to make it a reality.
-Seth Williams