In 2001, members of the Emerald City Rotary Club partnered with Computers for the World (C4W) to establish a computer lab in The Gambia, a small West African nation. At the time, I was a young student with big dreams but limited access to technology. Little did I know that the Rotary project taking shape in my community would help change the course of my life.
That computer lab opened doors to learning, opportunity, and possibility. It gave students like me access to technology that many of us had never experienced before. The skills and confidence I gained helped me pursue higher education and eventually brought me to the United States to study. Rotary’s investment in my community became an investment in my future.
Years later, after building a career and becoming a member of of Emerald City Rotary myself, I felt called to give back. Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, had come full circle in my life.
In 2023, I returned to The Gambia with fellow Rotarians to refurbish that very same computer lab. We updated the technology, improved the learning environment, and ensured that a new generation of students would benefit from the same opportunities that had impacted me years before. Today, that lab remains active, functional, and in the capable hands of local leaders who continue its mission.
But the story did not end there.
In 2026, our club returned once again—this time to transform a public library in Brikama. With support from District grant, we installed 50 computer workstations, tables , chairs and added internet access, provided books and educational resources, improved infrastructure, and created new opportunities for learning and digital literacy. Seeing children eagerly explore technology and educational resources reminded me why Rotary’s work matters.
What makes Rotary special is not simply the projects we complete. It is the lasting impact those projects have on individuals, families, and communities. Rotary plants seeds whose fruits may not be fully realized for years or even decades. I am living proof of that impact. A Rotary project that began in 2001 helped shape my future. Twenty-five years later, I had the privilege of returning to help create opportunities for others.
That is why Rotary matters. That is why I am a Rotarian. Rotary changes lives—not just for a moment, but for generations.
