Jessy Nkhoma: Steve Sinnott Foundation Young Ambassador in Malawi

In 2019, I had the opportunity of being a Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF) Young Ambassador and working with Send My Fried to School in the U.K.


Being an SSF ambassador and working with Send My Friend to School has been a great opportunity for me. I learnt a lot of things:

a)    How to raise our voice as young people in the world.

b)   Awareness and understanding of my own community and our culture and how that sits with other cultures of the world.

c)    The pleasure of interacting with different people in the U.K.


I very much enjoyed meeting different people from different cultures, when I visited the schools, mainly in London but in other parts of the UK as well. It was very hard for me as it was the first time leaving my country.


I really enjoyed campaigning for Education For All with the other send My Friend to School ambassadors and they helped me to learn more about Sustainable Development Goal 4 -SDG4, which is about ensuring that all children have access to inclusive, equitable and quality education. Education being the key to success in life. I have realised that it is my responsibility to campaign for better and affordable education worldwide. Both girls and boys must have access to education.


During my trip to the UK I have benefited from meeting different people, how to raise my voice and to be heard by the masses concerning education and climate change. I learnt about the differences and similarities in the UK and Malawi. I have learnt what my fellow peers are doing to combat climate change. I also learnt to keep struggling when dealing with difficult situations. It is my choice to measure the impact I am personally having on climate change and those in my community.


My best moment was speaking to the crowd at the Climate Strike outside Parliament. I did enjoy speaking at the party conferences, visiting a museum, many schools and a university and a football stadium but I enjoyed most the feeling of solidarity and the shared passion to make a change through campaigning at the climate strike.


Since returning to Malawi, I have continued to use my voice and talk to people about the devastating effects of climate change. I have spoken with many young people at school and college and in my community.


It is difficult for young people to have their voices heard in Malawi, many young people are uneducated as they cannot afford education. When I talk to young people about climate changes they are often not interested as they don’t understand the basics due to lack of education opportunities.


I have personally spoken with Tailors Boopngue, member of parliament to raise the issue of climate change and lack of education for all. We discussed some ideas on how we can make a real impact on climate change in Malawi.


In the future I am looking forward to continuing the campaign for Education for All as I believe that education will have a real impact on climate change. I am also looking forward to continuing my own education, which has not been easy due to affordability and my family are poor, so it is difficult to pay for school fees and materials. I am studying hard for my exams in June 2022.


Jessy Nkhoma • December 5, 2021

Empowering Student Voices: Young Ambassadors Champion Inclusive Education for All

By Ann Beatty • October 13, 2025
In our continued commitment to ensuring quality and inclusive education for every child, we’ve taken our advocacy to a new level by empowering the next generation to lead the conversation. In partnership with The Gambia Teachers Union, we recently convened the Foundation’s Young Ambassadors for a vibrant day of engagement dedicated to promoting the right to education for all. The event brought together passionate students from selected senior secondary schools across Region One, including St. John’s School for the Deaf, to explore what it truly means to make education inclusive, equitable, and accessible to every learner. 

Seeds of Hope 2025: Young People Planting Peace and Sustainability Around the World

By Ann Beatty • October 3, 2025
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspirational winners of the 2025 Seeds of Hope for a Better Future competition, a global initiative supported by UNESCO that brings together creativity, community, and a shared commitment to peace and sustainability. This unique project invited schools across the world from nursery and primary through to secondary and high school to explore the values of peace, cultural understanding, and care for the planet. In the face of climate change, young people were asked to tell their stories through art, performance, and digital creativity, highlighting how small seeds of action can grow into powerful movements for hope. The results have been extraordinary. Schools in France, the UK, Gambia, Haiti, and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, with projects ranging from community gardens and sculptures to dance performances and illustrated stories. Each winner has shown how young voices and imagination can nurture peace and sustainability in ways that inspire us all. The full Awards Ceremony can be watched linked here: S eeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 Highlights from the Winners Oak View Primary and Nursery School (UK) created Faces of Feeling, a collection of joyful sculptures already exhibited in a local gallery. Judges praised their work as supporting the wellbeing of others and embodying the idea of children as true “Seeds of Hope.” St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School (Gambia) painted Campaign for a Sustainable Banjul , reflecting real-world climate action in their city. The judges described it as “a most deserving and robust winner.” In France , the Jardin d'Enfants des Nations Unies (United Nations Nursery School) won hearts with Wind of Peace , where 5-6 year olds combined drawings, paintings, and tree planting to champion reforestation. Lyng Hall Secondary School, Coventry (UK) collaborated with Henley Green Primary and the UK Literacy Association to produce The Heart Shaped Hole – an innovative and metaphorical take on Seeds of Hope. Earlsdon Primary School, Coventry (UK) impressed with Primary Plot , a project that included gardening with the visually impaired, reflecting inclusivity and sustainability. A remarkable cross-collaboration between 21 schools across West Yorkshire, Essex, and Tower Hamlets (UK) resulted in Lights, Camera, Score , an ambitious combination of animation, music, and storytelling. CIMA Community School of Hope, Haiti shared Konbit - a video of dance and solidarity, inspiring villages to work together for peace and dignity. Daraja Academy, Kenya presented an ambitious and optimistic project integrating sustainability into everyday school life. Celebrating Creativity and Peace This year’s competition was judged by an impressive panel of artists, writers, and cultural leaders including Sir Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Dame Liz Forgan, Hugh Quarshie, and Rathna Ramanathan. Their collective expertise highlighted the quality and depth of the entries, each of which showed how art can be a powerful tool for global understanding and change. The Seeds of Hope initiative is part of UNESCO UK’s Arts and Culture for Peace programme, first launched in 2022. It has grown from earlier collaborations such as the Coventry Young Ambassadors’ Islands of Peace Japanese Garden , opened in 2021 a living reminder that seeds planted in communities can continue to flourish. Highlights from the ceremony can be found here at this playlist Looking Ahead As Ann Beatty, UNESCO ASPnet UK National Coordinator , shared: “The quality of entries was extraordinary. We are delighted at the response to this amazing initiative in collaboration with our international partners.” And in the words of judge Jannette Cheong : “Young people around the world understand well the value of peace and tolerant relationships between cultures. Their creativity is an inspiration to all of us.” At The Steve Sinnott Foundation, we believe that education is the seed from which hope grows. The Seeds of Hope competition is a shining example of how young people through creativity, compassion, and collaboration are already shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. You can access the full online awards presentation here: Seeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025

Teachers Advance in Guidance and Counselling Training in The Gambia

By Ann Beatty • August 18, 2025
The journey to strengthen the well-being and success of learners in The Gambia continues with a renewed commitment to guidance and counselling in schools. By August 14th 2025, we have successfully trained 140 educators across 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 & 𝟒 under our Guidance & Counselling Programme. A programme designed to equip educators with the skills to support students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Region 3 Teachers Complete Level 2 Training On Wednesday, 6th August, thirty teachers from Region 3 (North Bank Region) began a three-day Level 2 Guidance and Counselling training at the Christian Council in Kanifing. This programme built on their earlier Level 1 training in Farafenni, with a focus on deepening their capacity to serve as school-based counsellors. The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, recognising the teachers’ commitment and marking an important step in their professional development. These certificates symbolize more than an achievement; they represent each teacher’s readiness to provide psychosocial support, guidance, and mentorship to learners across their schools.