Gambia: Mothers seize the right to education for their daughters and themselves

Satou carefully takes a pen in her hand, concentrates hard and slowly writes her name on a piece of paper. The group of colourfully dressed women bursts into applause and cheers. Satou lowers her eyes and smiles shyly, but her pride, confidence and self-esteem shine through. Satou is one of many illiterate and formerly illiterate women in the Mamudfana village Mothers' Club in The Gambia. They are coming together, with the support of UNICEF, to break down the barriers to education, including poverty, traditional customs such as early marriage and a resistance to educating girls.